Levon "Bonnie" Elliott

Lavon “Bonnie” Elliott peacefully passed away after a short illness on August 3rd. She was born on November 22nd, 1923 in Freeport, IL of parents Roy and Emma Phillps. Living to over 102 Bonnie was known as being a very independent and strong woman. She outlived her husband Edward by 50 years. Being the oldest child of 5 siblings she had a lot of responsibilities living on a farm. She attended a one room schoolhouse and became an outstanding student gong on to Freeport High School. She met the love of her life Eddie Elliott of Oregon, IL roller skating and married on November 28, 1942. Shortly after, Eddie had to go into the service. Bonnie worked at the Ordinance plant in Amboy where at the young age of 20 was put in charge of crimping highly explosive artillery shells for WWII. If she made one little mistake it would have blown the plant up. During her young adult years she was hostess of what later was called Ganymede, waitressed at Murdock’s, became a sales lady at Town and Country Dress Shop, and lastly was a receptionist for Wood Brothers’ Manufacturing Company until her retirement at 70. She never had to give an interview for any of these places of employment because all of the owners personally asked her to work for them. She managed to scrimp and save 1/3 of a the down payment of a newer home which became the family home for over 75 years. Bonnie treasured her family having 2 children…Linda (Larry) Petry of Westlake Estates in Winnebago, IL and Lynn (Diana) of Oregon, IL. Bonnie enjoyed making awesome meals for her family, Red Hats, playing Bridge with good friends, the Woman’s Club, the Wood’s Girls, taking bus trips, and helping at Autumn on Parade in the Methodist Church. She loved her grandchildren…Sharro (Jayson) Arnett, Aaron (Kaytee) Petry, and Ryan (Brooke) Petry, great grandchildren, Alexandra, Josi, Olivia, Ashley, and Brielle along with her 2 great great grandchildren, Mena and Giovanni, and many nieces, nephews, family and friends. Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie Elliott, parents, brother, Marvin and sister-in-law Donna Phillips, sister Vivien Ashley, her sister Norma and brother-in-law Earl Winters and her sister Mary and brother-in-law Pete Gioppo. The family would like to thank Sheila and CJ from Serenity Hospice for their wonderful care of Bonnie in her final days. Memorials can be made out to Oregon’s Serenity House. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 7 at the Farrell Holland Gale Funeral Home in Oregon with Rick Ryland officiating. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM until time of service. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery with a reception following at Cork & Tap in Oregon. To enter the reception at Cork and Tap please park in the back and enter through the back door.