In Loving Memory of

Donna Maria Bohn

3 Mar 1974 - 14 Mar 1999

In Maria’s own words, taken from a Family Book of Remembrance project by her sister-in-law Cindy Bohn.

"I was born in American Fork, Utah on the 3^rd of March 1974. I was the seventh child of eight children. When I was born I had a heart murmur, that really scared my mother and father. Mom told me that the family prayed really hard for me. When I went back to the doctor for a check up the heart murmur was gone.

I got along with most of my sibling but most of them were a lot older than me. The one I fought with the most was Sandra, and when I would get into trouble April would take up for me. I was closest to Tracy when we were little, but now I am closest to Sandra. The best thing about going to Grandma and Grandpa Penningtons was getting to play with all of my cousins, and pinto beans and corn bread she would make. Grandma would also take us to Jackson Falls so we could slid down the waterfall – now that was fun but we went through a lot of blue jeans.

Since the family was so big, we all shared the chores. We had to weed the garden, wash dishes, help cook meals, fold clothes, sweep and mop floors and clean the rooms in the house. We also had to keep our room clean – that was a must.

On my birthday we would have cake and ice cream and I would open presents. Sometimes dad and I would share cakes because his is the day before mine."

Poem requested by Sandra to be shared.

To My SISTER

Don’t think I’ve forgotten

Nights we’d lie in bed

Things you’d say to scare me

How I’d hide my head

The arguments were your fault

(I’m sure you know it’s true)

I took care of your things

Like I was supposed to do

So why when you are far away

Am I lonely and blue

Or have a special secret

Just have to share with you

It’s simply because I need you

Our kind of love won’t end

You’re that rare and special

Part of me

My sister and my friend

S. Lister

The family was living in Highland Utah with three brothers and four other sisters there was lots of love for this little girl to grow up with. Maria was a joy to all those who would meet her. In her own way she was able to touch many hearts and gain many friends in life. It was said that you could just tell there was something special about this young lady.

The Keeper of Friendship

In a friendship

We’re free to expose,

Parts of ourselves

Nobody else knows.

But the thing that sustains it

And sets it apart,

Is not something spoken

It’s a bond of the heart.

True friends are rare

In a lifetime two or three,

I’m so glad it happened

Between you and me!

Author Unknown

As life would have it the Bohn family packed up and left the home in Highland to the town of Linden Tennessee. From Linden she would move around the south some with her father when her father and mother split up but Maria would return to Linden where she had many friends and Mother was close by. Even though Maria spent a lot of time living with her mother she will always be her Daddies little girl. It was here that Maria would attend school and learn more about the world.

Maria’s first crush was on Jeff Tatum. They were in kindergarten together and when he asked for her phone number she was not sure she should give it to him. She liked him but gave him her best friends number instead and that was the end of their going together.

Like the month of March, which you know can be like a lion or a lamb. Maria was the same way I guess this happens to a lot of March babies, Lion/Lamb. If she need to be the lion she could be that lion with ease and just as easy she was could be the lamb. Maria’s hero was Bugs Bunny, she found him smart, clever, funny and adorable.

Maria had lots to do in school she was a Homecoming Queen, Active member of the class presidency, active officer in the FHA, and enjoyed many Basketball games as a cheerleader.

Maria would perform many jobs at times holding down more than one job at a time. She was janitor for the Board of Education, waitress at the Dinner Bell, office assistant for Mothers Real-estate, a hardware sales person, covenient store attendant at tubby’s, swimming pool installation team member, plumber, electrical work on homes and pools, Doctors assistant drawing blood and giving shots Oil distribution clerk, and Sales Manager for Sandy Shores Cabins, Administrative assistant of Horizon Realty. She loved all these jobs and learned something from each. She really enjoyed the jobs that allowed her to work outside no matter what the weather was like she loved to be in the outdoors. Others learned that she had many skills and talents of which she was always willing to share.

Though she will be missed she will always be loved. Not only will she be missed by her family many of her friends will miss her as well. Michael, Marias’ oldest brother, and Maria built a strong bound when he returned from Japan. Michael joined the Air Force while Maria was young and they were not as close as Maria was with the other brothers and sisters. While home on leave before going to Idaho they spent lots of time together and got to know each other again. This bond between them has grown very strong and they spent many hours talking on the phone and using email to keep in touch with each other while we was away. Maria always insisted that Michael stay with her when he would return on leave no matter how short his leave was. Michael was able to spend the last week with Maria as she worked at the office.

Chad Roder will always have a very special place in his heart for Maria as she had for him. Chad and Maria spent many hours together doing many different things. So many times they would go and pick up Ashley from Lebanon. The three of them had lots of fun together. Maria and Ashley had a bond stronger than most other bonds. Ashley has told Maria that she was like a big sister but better. Chad and Ashley were truly the love of Maria’s life. Maria and Ashley spent time on the creek catching fish, worms and crawdads. They would work together to gain the treasures they would find while moving rocks and things that were in the water. As Chad’s family has accepted Maria as part of their family Chad has been accepted into the Bohn family and will continue to be a treasured part of our life.

On 14 March 1999 around 10:00 p.m. she left this world to advance to the loving arms of her Grandfather Orson Bohn along with many other great grandparents, aunts, and uncles to have left this world and gone to the next. I am sure that as she has touched the lives of those around her here she is now touching the lives of those who she knew a little about but now will have time to learn from them and let them feel of her very special spirit.