Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Preston Batte; father, George Richard Deen; mother, Margie Deen Albright; brother, Travis Deen; and sister, Mertie Deen Stanley. Bonnie is survived by her four children; daughter, Deenae (Bob) Brown; son, Greg (Alice) Batte; daughter, Leah (Gene) Moon; and son, Brad (Lucie) Batte; and sister, Norma Deen Golihar. Also leaving behind 10 grandchildren; Kim and Dan Mead, Kyle (Katie) Batte, Casey (Charlie) Overturf, Kelly (Ethen) Cavanaugh, Jade (Chris) VanMeter, Hutton (Megan) Moon, Hannah Batte and Ellie Batte, who adored their Nana. She is additionally survived by eleven great grandchildren and a host of wonderful friends that she adored.
Bonnie and Preston met in Texarkana, Arkansas and relocated to California while Preston was a Marine. After Preston’s enlistment they relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio and eventually landed in Bossier City, LA where they resided for 65 yrs.
Bonnie was extremely ambitious; she was a dedicated, hard working, no nonsense employee throughout her career. A few of the more memorable positions she held included: the Louisiana Ordinance Plant in Minden, LA where she was promoted to the position of Supervisor in a mostly male-led environment; the Western Electric plant in Shreveport, LA, the nation’s largest manufacturer of telephones at the time, where she became the first female Supervisor appointed at that location; Dietician at Parkway High School in Bossier City, LA where she managed a kitchen staff, ordered and purchased all ingredients necessary to prepare meals daily throughout the school year that included a protein, two vegetables, dessert and homemade yeast rolls (The Best!) for the students in order for her to be home with her children after school each day; and finally, she was hired in 1981 as a Quality Control Engineer at the General Motors Truck & Bus Assembly Plant in Shreveport, LA, where she excelled in her position and was employed until retirement. She also was active and successful in real estate sales. Bonnie completed a real estate course in 1980 and was hired with Harville Real Estate in Bossier City, LA, prior to working with General Motors.
Most importantly Bonnie was a loving caring Mom who cherished her family and was an exceptional mentor in the way she lived her life. She was always full of energy, had an amazing attitude and outlook on life. She went out of her way to encourage and uplift others. She was a devout Christian and active as a member at both Carriage Oaks and Huntington Park Churches of Christ in Northeast Louisiana throughout the past 30 years prior to her decline. Who strived to please God in all that she did.
She was very much loved by her children: a doting (but challenging), caring and attentive mom and grandmother. She loved real estate sales, shopping and playing games with her children and grandchildren, and vacationing wherever and whenever she could with her family. She especially loved the beach and treasured their many vacations to Florida along the Gulf Coast.
Bonnie leaves behind a host of precious friends, admired colleagues and loved ones that she truly appreciated and held in high esteem throughout her lifetime. She will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed.
Bonnie's family will celebrate her life in a private ceremony followed by interment in Hill Crest Memorial Park.
