Bonnie J. Duncan

Bonnie Jean Cox, 80, passed Saturday, May 31, 2014. She was born on Sept. 21, 1933, in Portland, Oregon, to Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Cox. Bonnie was born during the Great Depression. Her father had made several business trips to Kalispell from Portland, and in 1939 he decided to relocate the family to Kalispell to pursue business opportunities. Bonnie's father was a successful self-employed businessman in both Portland and later in Kalispell. He operated recycling businesses, long before it was fashionable to call it recycling.

Bonnie attended primary school in Portland and in Kalispell. She graduated from Flathead County High School in Kalispell in 1951.

Following high school, Bonnie enrolled at the University of Montana in Missoula. In the fall of 1952, Bonnie traveled to Munich, Germany, and on Oct. 24, 1952, married her high school sweetheart, Robert A.H. Adams of Somers. Bob was stationed in Munich at that time while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force. Their daughter Sandra Jean Adams was born in Munich in 1953.

Upon returning from Germany, Bonnie and Bob lived in Kalispell, where Bob worked for his father-in-law and Bonnie gave birth to their son Mark in 1955. Bonnie and Bob relocated to Missoula, where Bob worked and completed his education at the University of Montana. Their son Matthew was born in Missoula in 1957.

Bob and Bonnie relocated to Butte, where Bob was employed by the U.S. Forest Service. Their third son Christopher was born in Butte in 1962. Bonnie and Bob returned to Missoula in 1964, but they separated and were divorced May 23, 1966.

Bonnie worked at several different jobs. For many years, she was employed at the Betty J dress shop for women and also at Northwest Collectors, where she met her second husband Peyton "Pat" Duncan. Pat and Bonnie were married in 1968. For a time, Pat and Bonnie operated businesses in both Missoula and Scottsdale, Arizona. They owned homes in both places and spent winters in Arizona and the rest of the year resided in Missoula. Bonnie was also a manager of an apartment complex in Scottsdale.

Bonnie was a very outgoing and socially oriented individual. She had many friends and was involved in many fraternal, social and charitable organizations. She belonged to the U.S. Forest Service wives club, Beta Sigma Phi, the Missoula Credit Women's Association, and other groups and organizations. Bonnie had many close personal friendships; several close friends who survive her are Shirley George, Donna Zeltinger and grade school, high school and other friends too numerous to mention. She was also an associate of the Ya Ya Group. The primary purpose of the group was to ensure their members enjoyed life to the fullest, and they did! They played golf, played bridge, enjoyed luncheons, dinners and travel together. They enjoyed time by the pool, drank proper cocktails, danced as much as possible, behaved uproariously and had more fun than most people are entitled to have. It's said that Bonnie was a standout in this group!

Bonnie was always the life of the party and every family get-together. She is beloved by her family and friends and will be greatly missed. At the end of her life Bonnie suffered from Parkinson's disease. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. The family plans to have a memorial service for Bonnie in the summer of 2015.

She was preceded in death by her parents Calvin Sylvester Cox and Vivien Margaret Cox (Cellars). She was also preceded in death by her beloved half-brother, Calvin Cox Jr. (Beverly).

She is survived by her second husband, Pat Duncan, to whom she was married for 46 years. She is also survived by her brother Jack Cox (Joyce) of Sonoita, Arizona; daughter, Sandra Hackler (Steve) of Missoula; sons, Mark Adams (Candace) of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Matthew Adams (Tracy) of San Diego and Christopher Adams (Kathryn) of Houston. She is also survived by two stepdaughters, Patti Harp (Geoff) of Missoula and Peggy Deeds (Jack) of Denver; 19 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Read Bonnie Duncan's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.