Obituary of Bonner Wier Brown Patterson

Funeral Service Monday, Mar 26, 2018 10:00 AM Bonner Wier Brown Patterson December 18, 1939 - March 22, 2018 Bonner Wier Brown Patterson was born on December 18, 1939 in Beaumont Texas, the only child of Vernette Wier and James Tillman Brown. She was a devoted daughter that adored her parents. Bonner graduated Beaumont High School in 1956 after which she attended Lamar University. She was quite the socialite, a fabulous dancer, and was always dressed to the nines. In 1958 she was a princess in the Neches River Festival and some say she maintained that "princess" title for life. Bonner was a devoted Christian and enjoyed attending church and bible studies. Married in 1960, she and her husband resided in Beaumont. They had two daughters; Dabney and Marra. She was a member of the Junior League of Beaumont. She spent time volunteering, attending ladies luncheons and taking her young daughters to ballet and gymnastics. In 1979, Bonner moved her family to La Porte Texas where she worked as a dental assistant for several years. She joined the Houston Junior league and was active member of the Beta Sigma Phi International Sorority from 1982-2000 attending events and spending time with friends. In 1987, Bonner moved back to Beaumont to take care of her father until his death in 1997. In 1993 she married Gerald "Jerry" Marshall Patterson of Beaumont. They resided in Beaumont until 1997 when they moved to Taylor lake village to be close to her daughters. She was a member of the Harris County Master Gardeners where she and Jerry enjoyed attending events, volunteering at extension office and working plant sales. She was an extremely talented floral designer and enjoyed doing flowers for weddings of close friends and family. She was frugal and loved going to flea markets, antique malls and estate sales with her girls. Whether it was an estate sale or her favorite store was having a sale and opened at 6:00am, she and the girls were there at 5:30 sleeping in the car. She loved a bargain. Bonner was a lady of style and many creative talents. An amazing seamstress, she spent many a hour when her children were young making dresses, hand embroidered shirts, Halloween costumes and the most intricately detailed hand beaded Christmas stockings you have ever seen. She even made her daughter prom dresses. She enjoyed entertaining and decorating. Holidays at Bonners house were amazing; she painstakingly decorated the entire house. Candles lined the sidewalk up the door that was draped with fresh cedar garland with big velvet bows. The Christmas tree had white doves hanging from the ceiling as if circling the angel on top which was wearing a beaded velvet renaissance gown that she made herself. She wanted to make sure everything was special and festive year after year. Her deviled eggs were yummy and her thanksgiving pumpkin roll was to die for! She loved the process of following an idea through start to fruition. She was at her best when she had a project, whether it was designing landscaping, sewing a quilt, party planning, floral design or just trying to perk someone up going through a hard time. Some of the best times were oriented around family projects… building a doll house and making miniature wicker furniture out of tooth picks and thread, a large shell mirror, flower beds, stain glass, quilts and many weddings she would do lavish floral arrangements and bouquets…everyone was required to assist. Bonner enjoyed interior decorating. She once surprised her daughter Marra by completely redecorated her bedroom while she was in school one day. All walls were scrupulously upholstery in fabric, new draperies which she made herself and new bedding. She spent months crocheting a coordinating afghan to match. Bonner took great pride in her family’s long Texas heritage. Her great great grandfather; James William Baily was the 9th mayor of Houston in 1846. Her great uncle and name sake; Benjamin F. Bonner was owner of Southwestern Oil Company, Bonner Oil company, Vice President of Kirby Lumber Company and built the first Oil refinery in Houston. BF Bonner along with her great uncle Robert W. Wier owned Wier Longleaf Lumber Company and in 1905, they established two small towns in east Texas for lumber workers; Wiergate and BonWier. She was preceded in death by her parents James T. and Vernette W. Brown and her husband Jerry Patterson. She is survived by her daughter Dabney Davis, grandson Michael Davis and wife Jessica, great grandsons Brayden and Wyatt, grandson Cody Davis and wife Ashley, great grandsons Braxton and Mason, her daughter Marra Gunnells and husband Del, grandsons Cole and Reid, Step-son Brad Dearing and wife Julie, grandson Brayden and granddaughter Alyssa. Funeral Service will Monday March 26, 2018 at 10:00am at Clear Lake United Methodist Church 16335 El Camino Real, Houston TX, 77062. Reception at church from 11:00-1:00. Graveside will be at 2:30pm at Magnolia Cemetery 2291 Pine St Beaumont TX 77703