Bonnie Roller

Yvonne "Bonnie" Roller went to be with the Lord and her loved ones in heaven on Wednesday morning, December 4, 2019, at Holston Manor Nursing Home. Bonnie was born on June 9, 1926, in the Waterloo area of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She met her husband, Emerson, when he was stationed in the Pacific Theater in the U.S. Navy during WWII. They were married in Australia and traveled by ship to the United States and on to Kingsport, Tennessee, where she resided most of her adult life. They lived by the Holston River on the Sullivan County farm of W.D. and Lena Roller, Emerson's parents. When Emerson was recalled to service during the Korean Conflict, they moved to Camp LeJeune in N.C. for two years and then returned to Kingsport.Bonnie studied and became a U.S. citizen. She was a substitute teacher for Sullivan County Schools. Later she worked as a Sears’s sales associate for 20 years before retiring from Sears at the age of 60. She was a long-time member of Ketron Memorial United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir until declining health prevented it. She loved her church where she volunteered with the Children's programs and loved to make homemade candy and other treats for them. Bonnie was a member of Kingsport Women of the Moose, Lynn Garden Opti-Mrs and Girl Scout leader for several years in Lynn Garden. She loved bingo, knitting, cooking and growing African violets. Bonnie loved to bowl in leagues and went bowling for her 90th birthday with her family whom she loved dearly.She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Viola Parke; husband, James Emerson Roller; sister, Norma Fish; half-sister, Esma Brazzill; several other half-brothers and half-sisters; several adopted siblings; special niece and several nephews who were like siblings to her.She is survived by daughter, Kathryn Baker (Hayden); granddaughters, Kristi Herron (Scott) and Lesley Stephens (Mike); grandson, Brian Baker (Romina); and great-grandchildren, James Wright, Kasey Reece, Ellie Stephens, Lily Stephens, and Tavi James Baker; several special nieces and nephews. A visitation will be from 1:00 pm -1:45 pm Sunday, December 8, 2019, at Oak Hill Funeral and Cremation Services in the J. Wayne Hamilton Memorial Chapel. A Funeral Service will follow at 2:00 pm with Pastor Wayne Baker and Pastor Joshua Swanson officiating. A Private Entombment Service for the family will follow at Oak Hill II Mausoleum.In lieu of flowers or food, donations can be made to Ketron Memorial UMC or to local animal shelters, or charities of your choice.The family would like to extend a special thank you to the caring staff at Elmcroft, Holston Manor, and Amedisys hospice. The care of Yvonne “Bonnie” Roller and her family has been entrusted to the staff of Oak Hill Funeral and Cremation Services.Read Obituary