Obituary of Yvonne Mae Shanks

Yvonne Mae “Bonnie” Shanks (81) resident of Harrison, ID passed away at Shoshone Medical Center on December 28, 2023.  She was born to Frank and Anna (Gee) Green on December 6, 1942, in Wellsburg, NY.  Bonnie grew up in Wellsburg, NY and graduated from Southside High School in Elmira, NY with the class of 1960.

Following high school, Bonnie went to work at Century Wholesale.  She married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life George Shanks on May 20, 1961, in Elmira.  The couple made their home in Wellsburg and started a family.  In 1986, the family relocated to their forever home in Harrison, Idaho.  Bonnie is survived by George and their children: Valerie and Rick Brown, granddaughter Addison of Paradise, Tx; Debbie and Jeff of Coeur d’Alene; David in Boise, ID; Jason and Carrie, grandsons Oliver and Sawyer in Meridian, ID; and Kevin in Kingston, ID.  She was preceded in death by daughter Theresa.

Bonnie worked for the City of Harrison, FerdCo and as a paraprofessional at Kootenai Elementary.  Bonnie was devoted to a deep faith as she served in the Harrison Community Baptist Church as a Deaconess for many years. She helped run the food bank and Christmas box deliveries.  Bonnie loved children and was active with the church’s nursery, Sunday School, and Vacation Bible School. 

Bonnie was known in Harrison as the listening ear for those who were struggling or needed encouragement.  She had a welcoming home, and it was not uncommon for her children to come home to find a stranger sipping coffee at the counter with their mother.  Most importantly to her, she loved her family and a full dinner table of laughter with family and friends. She will be deeply missed.

A Funeral Service will be on January 6, 2023, at 11:00 am at the Harrison Community Baptist Church.  A gathering of family and friends will follow services in the fellowship hall of the church.  Bonnie will be laid to rest at Ashland Cemetery in Wellsburg, NY at a later date.