Bonnie Jean Carver (nee Marmula), was “called Home by the Lord” after a long illness ending at Cove’s Edge nursing facility in Damariscotta on Jan. 7.
Bonnie was born in Bellevue, Penn. on Feb. 4, 1941 and subsequently moved with her family to Philadelphia, Penn. where she graduated from the Roxborough High School. She married young, becoming a Navy-wife leading to many homeports in Florida, Texas, California, Idaho, Arizona, East Coast, Bermuda and New England. She raised three sons among all these moves; a strict disciplinarian she earned the moniker ‘The Sargeant’ from the little troopers. A citified lady, she took to camping and hiking which served her family well on four trans-continental trips visiting many National Parks, Monuments and historic sites.
Bonnie Jean had many endeavors outside of the home, for instance, her tenure as an Arthur Murray dance instructor when everyone wanted to do the “Twist” which was the rage. She attended several secretarial/office management-training segments, which led her to positions with the Naval Investigative Service and the Bureau of the Census. As a research assistant she helped develop questionnaires for the 2000 Census. While in Dunkirk, Md. and Washington, DC area, she worked in real estate offices; one in the suburban housing market and another managing urban business and commercial buildings.
But her real personal love was cooking and entertaining. She reached gourmet capability on many occasions. She researched hundreds of books developing a large culinary library from which she developed ‘improved’ recipes to the delight of her guests. She had the entrepreneurial spirit but, moving, family demands, and fiscal limits denied her of the ambition to establish either a bed and breakfast or the morning coffee shop called “Bonnie’s Buns.” She has been entertaining on a more limited basis since moving to New Harbor. She enjoyed traveling, especially cruises to the ports of Western Europe, Caribbean, New Zealand and Australia.
Bonnie, an only child, is survived by her husband of 50 years, Cdr. D. R. ‘Doc’ Carver, USN (Ret.); sons, Donald Craig Carver and children, Austin James and Madison of Fallston, Md., Neal Graham Carver and children, Trevor and Zachary of Crofton, Md. and Joel Scott Carver of Baltimore, Md., her middle son.
Bonnie’s ashes will be held by the family for a memorial service to be announced when scheduled.
Condolences, and messages for the family may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
