A tough act to follow

With a never-ending sense of adventure, Bonnie (Boyd) Huston, 71, skied off for lighter powder on December 6, 2014. Her adoring family surrounded her in love as she glided for sunnier slopes after a hard fought 10 year battle with a rare and debilitating neurological disease, cerebellar ataxia.

In the face of her physical challenges, Bonnie was a true inspiration as she embodied grace, dignity, joy, humor and tenacity, literally smiling through trials that would have snuffed the light from many.

Beautiful, genuine, fun, magical and gifted are just a few of the words used to describe Bonnie. While she stood just 5’ tall (on a good day!?) her vibrant and spirited personality—and zest for adventure—lit up a room making her ‘bigger than life.’

Among countless best friends, one says “Bonnie celebrated every day of her life and did it with an intensity virtually impossible to duplicate. Hers is truly a tough act to follow.”

Bonnie put 300% into all of her endeavors with the gusto that would exhaust an Olympic athlete. Whether she was carving her exquisite turns down her favorite slope or topping the pyramid of water skiing acrobats, Bonnie did it with verve!

And she LOVED Christmas. In an effort to spread the joy of the season to others, Bonnie launched Huston & Company, a seasonal business for catalogue-order wreaths, decorations and gifts. One year she even enlisted the whole family to operate a Christmas tree lot (in their spare time!?): Bonnie dressed the family in holiday costume to attract passersby while she tended to customers.

Bonnie demonstrated a profound love of family and friends. She loved people and people loved her. She had an innate gift of bringing people together, seeing the beauty in every one. And she never met a stranger, welcoming all into her life and home. Bonnie was a ‘mom’ to many more than her three adoring children, Heather, Tom and Matt.

Her circle of admiring fans and forever friends is enormous, and she taught them the power of family, loyalty and generosity. Another BFF says “She had the ability to not only say you were important to her, but to continually demonstrate it. Her humor helped you when you had a bad day; her energy was absolutely infectious, her sense of adventure made life a delight, her caring qualified her as a candidate for sainthood.”

Bonnie is survived by her devoted husband of 49.5 years, Bob; their children, Heather, Tom and Matt; spouses Ross, Cammie and Inger respectively; grandchildren Hannah, Carson, Fletcher, Griffin and Cormac.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents Harold Stockton Boyd and Dorothy Grace (Crossett) Boyd.

A native Oregonian, Bonnie was born in La Grande and grew up in the Portland area. She attended Capitol Hill Grade School, Wilson High School and Oregon State University where she followed her mom’s legacy as a devoted Kappa Kappa Gamma. Bonnie received a degree in education and taught kindergarten, first and second grades before embarking on her career as ‘mother.’

Bonnie volunteered generously with a servant’s heart. She served as a board member for the Parry Center for Children (now Trillium Family Services); PEO chapter AN; and Waverley Country Club Women’s Board. A lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church congregation, she served as an Elder. And as a dutiful mother and educator, Bonnie also volunteered at the Fruit and Flower Child Care Center, acted as Riverdale School PTA president, and was co-chair of the Dunthorpe Garden Tour.

Bonnie made those who knew her better people. And Bonnie and Bob together exemplified a fairy tale Love Story. One friend says of the couple “Your strength, will, humor, closeness, love and so many intangibles shout to the heavens and have been a beacon of example and reflection for us all…. You have brought us closer to our families, made us reach out to our friends with a softer heart and more forgiving nature. Your example of drawing closer and closer as the path became more difficult will stay with us, each or us – forever.”

A Celebration of Bonnie’s beautiful life will be held on Monday, December 22, 2014, 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Portland, 1200 SW Alder St, Portland, OR 97205.

In lieu of flowers remembrances of Bonnie can be sent to First Presbyterian Church (address above) or the National Ataxia Foundation, 2600 Fernbrook Lane, Suite 119, Minneapolis, MN 55447, 763.553.0020.

Godspeed, Bonnie. We’ll love you forever.