Bonnie Sue Ellsworth, born in Ridgecrest, California to Boyd and Ruth Ellsworth on Sept. 19, 1953, joined her Lord in peace on May 23. Surviving Bonnie are her sister, Sharon Ellsworth, her son Donovan and daughter Tania, in addition to a legacy of grand and great-grandchildren.

Although born in Ridgecrest, Bonnie spent her childhood in Palmer Lake, Colorado, where she lived on a small ranch with her parents who had moved there to work at the Air Force Academy. Bonnie fell fast in love with horses growing up on the ranch and became a talented barrel racer, participating in several years of Pike's Peak or Bust ride in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She would spend many summers with her sister Sharon and later move in with her in Tehachapi while finishing a bachelors in Human Services. Bonnie did many wonderful things for the community of Tehachapi and was well known and loved.

Friends and family united on June 10 at Tehachapi Mountain Vineyard Church in a celebration of life. In the days following, Bonnie's Facebook was flooded by moving messages from the many, many people whose lives she touched:

"It was a beautiful celebration of life," said Michelle Parker. "She was so loved by so many."

"You were one of the most beautiful people I have ever met (and) from the first day I met you at church there was something very special," said Janette Eloff, one of many congregation members' lives she touched.

"Your passing leaves a big hole in my life and the lives of so many others," Sarah Rose wrote in a long and beautiful post commemorating her dear friend.

Bonnie brought much light and joy to the people she was around and left a great emptiness in the hearts of many when the Lord took her home. She will be deeply missed.