Bonnie Jean (Florence) Kelley passed away peacefully on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, in Irvine, Calif., from complications following a stroke.
She was born on Aug. 21, 1926, to her parents, Thomas and Alta Florence. Their family resided in Clarkston, where Bonnie attended school, graduating from Clarkston High School in June of 1944.
Bonnie was a member of Clarkston Bethel No. 16 of Job's Daughters, serving as honored queen in 1943. During the war years, Bonnie worked for the E.I. Dupont Co. atomic plant in Hanford, Wash., as a secretary.
Bonnie married Carroll Waite of Clarkston in 1945, and the couple lived in Pomeroy before moving to Inglewood, Calif., in 1953.
Bonnie was employed in the athletic department at the University of Southern California, where she was the secretary to head football coach John McKay. She retired from USC in 1989 but continued to follow and enjoy attending USC football games for many years.
Bonnie divorced in 1976 and remarried in 2000 to Jerry Kelley. They resided in Lake Forest, Calif., until his death in 2011, at which time she moved to La Vida at Mission Viejo senior living community.
Bonnie leaves behind her two sons, Brad and Craig Waite; along with four grandchildren, Melissa, Jeffrey, Patrick and Carter; along with one great-granddaughter, Olivia.
A celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Merchant Funeral Home in Clarkston, with burial following at Vineland Cemetery in Clarkston.
Please sign the online guest book at www.
merchantfuneralhome.com.
