Bonnie Tamerius

Well-known Fairbury florist Bonnie Tamerius passed into the arms of her heavenly Father on Saturday, September 4, 2021, at The Cedars Nursing Home in McPherson, Kansas. She was 89. Bonnie was born Bonnie Jean Sims on October 13, 1931, in Belleville, Kansas, to local florists Floyd Sims and Devonna Reynolds. As a child, she learned the flower business from her parents and soon learned she had a gift for flower arranging. On September 2, 1948, Bonnie was united in marriage to Clifford D. Tamerius who had just been discharged from the Marine Corps. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Steven Deane and Jeannie Gail. In October 1955 Bonnie and Dean moved to Fairbury to take over the management of Sims Florist, then owned by Bonnie's father. Thus began 55 years of service in the retail florist business for the Tamerius family. Bonnie was known throughout southeastern Nebraska and northeastern Kansas for her beautiful wedding and funeral arrangements. She managed the retail business on the south side of the square while Dean ran Sims Greenhouse. Her beautiful seasonal front window displays at the flower shop received many compliments and were often a topic of conversation downtown. From the beginning, Bonnie took an active interest in her children's education, serving in several different positions of the Park School PTA, including that of president. In 1962 the PTA honored her as a Life Member. Bonnie was also active in her community, volunteering her time by giving special presentations on flower arranging and gift wrapping at various clubs in town. She was a longtime member of the Fairbury Business and Professional Women's Club and served on the board of directors of the YWCA. Foremost in Bonnie's life were her family and her God. She was a devout follower of Christ and was a 60-year member of the Fairbury Foursquare Church, for a time serving on its board. Blessed with a beautiful singing voice, Bonnie not only sang solos in her church but was called on by Fairbury's three funeral homes to sing for funerals in the 1950s and 1960s. Bonnie was deeply devoted to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and often bragged of their accomplishments to anyone within earshot. From 1983 to 1993, Bonnie and Dean were hosts to eight foreign exchange students, seven from Mexico and one from Brazil. They enjoyed learning about the language and culture of the teenagers. Bonnie and Dean loved to travel. Their vacations included trips to Banff National Park in Canada, Tahiti with son Steve and his wife, several excursions to Mexico to visit with the parents of their exchange students, and a Caribbean cruise. After 65 years of marriage, Dean passed away in 2013. Suffering some health issues, Bonnie moved to McPherson two years later to be near her granddaughter Candice Paul and family. Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Dean, parents Floyd and DeVonna Sims, and brother Loren Sims. Survivors include children Steve Tamerius (wife Carol) of New Albany, Ohio, and Jeannie Cully (husband Mark) of Blue Eye, Missouri; grandchildren Greg Cully (wife Kristen) of Overland Park, Kansas, and Candice Paul (husband Alan) of McPherson, Kansas; great grandchildren, Logan Cully, Devin Cully, Davis Cully, and McKenna Paul; sister Dora Tamerius of St. Joseph, Missouri; brother-in-law Edward Tamerius (wife Marilyn) of Hannibal, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Friday, September 10 at 11:00 a.m. at Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury, NE. Interment will take place in the Fairbury Cemetery. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. www.gerdesmeyerfh.com

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