Bonnie Paine: Our Oldest Member Died at 99 years 11 months

Here's the poem I wrote for her funeral

Bonnie Paine

When autumn’s leaves were turning

On a cloudless Sunday morn

She worshiped her way to heaven,

once feeble, now reborn.

Just days from year one hundred,

a party had been planned.

Yet she departed early

To a celebration far more grand,

With friends and family and students

and Gordon at the gate.

There are no tears in heaven-

Eternity to celebrate

She met soldiers she’d encouraged

in Lawton years ago,

Second and third graders

Who just wanted her to know

That she gave them more than knowledge

More than any textbooks can give

More than basketball and compound words

She showed them how to live.

To be a faithful mother,

To play fair and fight the fight,

Cleanliness and order,

And with courage do what’s right.

Trust, worship, sing and pray

Fulfill your destiny

Lead your loved ones to the cross.

Impact eternity.

Many saints from Wanette

Showered her with praise,

Recounting sacrifices vast

In those Oklahoma days

Bonnie never wavered

Through a century of life

A testament of faithfulness

As mother and as wife.

Remembering all her acts of faith

Every victory she’d won--

But now seeing her Savior’s face to face

Her Redeemer- God’s own Son

And with the cheers of reunited friends,

She sees the Righteous One

The One she served so many years

And hears Him say “Well Done.”