Bonnie Alice Gooch

Bonnie Alice Gooch died at home, after a 2 night stay in the hospital on February 11th 2021. She was 92 years old. Bonnie was born in Bayfield, a small community outside Durango, Colorado on September 29th, 1928 to Claude and Roberta Knight, their 4th daughter, after Blanche, Adeline, and Jessie, with a younger brother, Bob completing the family.

Bonnie's primary education was in Bayfield where her 3 older sisters rode a horse to school. When Bonnie started to school they needed a 2nd horse to carry all 4 girls. Their ride was most often in the snow! She boarded in Durango for most of her high school years, first with Sister Blanche and one year with Grandmother Knight. After graduating there, 3rd in her class, she went to community college for 2 years where she boarded in the dorms.

She professed to serve God when she was 13 years old and never wavered from her profession.

When her parents moved to Red Bluff, California in 1948 it was determined she should move with them where her sister Adeline and husband, Paul, and Bonnie's brother, Bob were already living. There she met Melvin Gooch at Gospel Meetings in Chico. They were married August 3rd 1950.

Melvin was soon drafted into the army to serve overseas in the Korean war and Bonnie moved in with her parents and brother in Red Bluff. While Mel was still stationed at Fort Sam, their son, Donald Melvin was born to them in July of 1951and Mel was able to take leave to come see Bonnie and newborn son. He was released from duty in 1953. Daughter, Carolyn Roberta was born in 1954 and son, David Alan was born in 1957. During those years Bonnie and Mel took great interest in her sister Adeline's children, Karen, Janet and Doug Reed, who were living with their grandparents after the death of their mother. They were often together--making a large household at holiday times, evenings after work and school, and traveling together for meetings and conventions. Mel and Bonnie enjoyed having Sunday morning meetings in their home in Red Bluff for many years, and sometimes Wednesday nights and Union Sundays also.

Bonnie worked several jobs in Red Bluff, mostly in bookkeeping at the Wells Fargo Bank and then the Crocker Bank and later for the City of Red Bluff. They moved to Brookings, Oregon in 1980, to help out their son, David and wife, Josanne, and bought their cabinet shop. They also had Sunday morning meeting there and welcomed many visitors.

They moved to Grants Pass in 2001 where they had Wednesday night Bible study. Later in 2008 they moved to Eugene to live near son, Don and daughter-in-law, Theresa. After Melvin died in 2019, she moved into a senior living facility a couple blocks from Don and Theresa; then she moved with them when they moved to Moscow, Idaho so she could receive more care. She spent the last 6 weeks with her daughter, Carolyn and husband, Bill, in their home in Redmond, OR.

She was hospitable and welcoming everywhere she lived and was so thankful, loving and considerate.

She was proceeded in death by her husband, Melvin. They were married just a few months short of 70 years. Also proceeded in death by her three sisters and son, David. She is survived by her brother Bob of Red Bluff, CA, by her son, Don, and Theresa Gooch of Moscow, Idaho, by her daughter, Carolyn, and husband, Bill Gonce of Redmond, Oregon, nieces, Karen and Paul Szulewski, of South Carolina, Janet and David Pitcher of Sacramento, and Doug and Gayle Reed of Red Bluff, California. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, and many other nieces and nephews and many friends. She will be remembered by many for her love, and her love of the Truth.