Bonita Ramon Clark

A much beloved sister, Bonita Ramon Clark, 62, of Crestview, Florida, passed peacefully into heaven in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 11, 2023, at HCA Ft Walton Destin Medical Center, Ft Walton Beach, Florida. She had very bravely confronted and fought an 8-year battle with the incurable Systemic Scleroderma before succumbing to its intrusion. And while this disease eventually took life from her, it could not rob her of victory in life. Bonita was born on October 21, 1960. She graduated from Choctawhatchee Senior High School in 1978 and later received her BA in music from Stetson University. An appropriate quest fulfilled in that at a very early age Bonita developed an unfathomable love for music.  Beginning with childhood piano lessons, her talents grew to include a variety of musical instruments. She eventually settled on the Saxophone on which she excelled. But, her true passion never left the piano. It was from the piano that Bonita came to embrace both the majestic and soothing sounds of church pipe organs. It was her endearment for the piano and church pipe organs upon which she earned opportunity, be it accompanying an associate musician alongside the renowned Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra, playing in Lichfield Cathedral in Lichfield, England, or experiencing the luxury and honor of being one of few female organists to play the pipe organ of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. She was indeed an accomplished, respected professional musician.  While performing music on grand scales was her fascination, Bonita was a passionate educator at heart. She loved children and the youth and seized every opportunity presented to encourage them to explore music. She not only taught piano to children, she directed various traveling youth choirs across the country, directed local youth and adult bell choirs for Christmas concerts, assistant directed local school chorus programs, and accompanied many local young band musicians in State competitions.  While her accomplishments in music were many, she enjoyed her personal hobbies of gardening, sewing, crafting, cooking, often doing so for others in need, and traveling, sometimes just to see things with no real destination in mind. Bonita had a giving Christian soul, never asking for nor expecting any return for her gift, gesture, or simple help. She never endeavored to fit in with nor exclude any particular group of people. She gave of herself equally to all, over and again. Bonita will be dearly missed by her loved ones, friends, and many more, but we celebrate her victory of being at peace with her creator. She repeatedly exclaimed she just wanted to go home. While she is missed, we are joyful she finally made it there…home. For all of us who heard her music, her song of life, witnessed her fingers skillfully produce hypnotizing melodies, one right after the other, it was beauty in its purest form and it will ring true in hearts, souls and ears for all time. Bonita was preceded in death by her father Raymond R Clark, her mother Mary Frances Huggins Clark, and her maternal and paternal grandparents. She is survived by her sister, Anita Clark, her brother Buddy Clark, her much loved nieces, nephew, grandnieces, grandnephews, and cousins.  A Celebration of Life service will be held at Epiphany Episcopal Church on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 9:00am.  A reception / visitation with the family will follow immediately afterwards in the church fellowship hall. As there is limited space for flowers in the church, please consider memorial donations to your local school or church music programs or to the National Scleroderma Foundation (https://national.scleroderma.org).

Arrangements are entrusted to Whitehurst Powell Funeral Home in Crestview. Guest book and condolences are available online at www.whitehurstpowellfuneralhome.com

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