Bonnie Ruth Gunnels Rogers
Bonnie Ruth (Gunnels) Rogers, 86, of Ruston passed away Sunday, December 10, 2023, following a long illness of dementia.
She was a resident of Leslie Lake Nursing Home in Arcadia and following the death of her husband of 69 years in June, moved to Cypress Pointe Nursing Home in Bossier City.
Bonnie was born on September 27, 1937, in Magnolia, Arkansas to Espie and Ida Gunnels. She married Dorman ( Buddy) Rogers of Springhill and they raised three daughters — Vicki, Sherry and Debra. Following the closure of International Paper Mill in Springhill the couple moved to Baker, Louisiana, and then to Texarkana, Arkansas. After his retirement they relocated to Ruston, and she enjoyed grandchildren, membership at First Baptist Church, and traveling until health issues prevailed and she moved to Leslie Lakes.
Bonnie is predeceased by her parents; her husband, Dorman “ Buddy” Rogers; her daughter, Vicki Rogers Lofstrom of Farmerville; son-in-law, Cliff Merritt of Vidalia; sonin- law, Glen Hughes of Shreveport; two sisters, Vesta Gunnels Mullins and Maxine Gunnels Parman, both of Magnolia, Arkansas; and brothers, Donald Ray Gunnels of Magnolia, and USAF Lt. Colonel Tom Gunnels of Shalimar, Florida.
She is survived by daughters, Sherry Rogers Hill (Steve) of Shreveport and Debra Rogers Merritt of Bossier City. She is also survived by granddaughter, Katie Merritt Paulovich and husband Drew, along with their children Indiana, Atlas, and Wylder; granddaughter, Jessica Merritt Williams and husband Brad, along with their children Cole and Claire; and grandson, Skyler Lofstrom, all residents of Shreveport.
A family memorial will be held at a later date at Welcome Cemetery in Welcome, Arkansas — north of Springhill — at which time their ashes will be scattered together at his parent’s ( P. H. and Ethel Rogers) gravesites. Married sixty-nine years, apart four months, together again.
