Shirley Bonnifield

Shirley Lee (Whitener) Bonnifield was born on February 18, 1945 to John and Irene Whitener in Atascadero, California. She came into this world along with her twin sister, Beverly and the two were as close as you could imagine throughout their lives. The sisters grew up in Peachy Canyon with their three other siblings, Jul, Mike, and Eldon. Shirley married Jerry Bonnifield on January 11, 1967. They raised two children, Debbie and Jerry, in a little house on the east side of Paso. She loved her three grandchildren, Eli, Evelyn, and AJ. She loved being a grandma and sent her grandchildren “Grandma and Grandpa” gifts every month which usually contained some See’s candy for whichever holiday was coming up. Jerry and Shirley enjoyed traveling and took their travel trailer across the United States often finding different routes back to Minnesota where her grandchildren lived. Shirley loved to cook and would often volunteer to take a meal to someone in need. Her son would have to be careful not to mention he missed some of her cookies or he would receive a batch in the mail within a few days. The family enjoyed many chicken and tri-tip barbecues which always included her special macaroni salad and baked beans which her son has tried to re-create, but it never turns out quite the same as hers. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, John and Irene, her husband Jerry, her daughter Debbie and her brother-in-law Dale Spradley. She is survived by her son, Jerry, daughter-in-law Nancy, her grandchildren Eli (Maeli), Evelyn, and AJ, sisters Beverly Spradley and Jul Roeder (Ronnie), brothers Mike Whitener (Shirley) and Eldon Whitener (Erin) plus many nieces and nephews. Shirley went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 10, 2026.