Bonnie Murle Nall Yokeley (1906-1997)       

Saline County, Missouri

Photos:

Bonnie Murle Nall Yokeley
and son, Bill Yokeley

Yokeley Children:
1 girl, 2 boys:

Betty
Billy
Dongene

Links:

• Facts

• Father - Howard B Nall

• Mother - Grace Truman Vardiman Nall

• Brother - Vardeman Boone Nall

• Brother - Frank Nall

• Brother - Russell Nall

• Sister - Virginia Nall Lathum

• Sister - Grace Nall Johnson

• Husband - Estel (Pete) Yokeley

• Husband - Virgil Wood

• Daughter - Betty Murle Yokeley Harris

• Son - William Estel (Bill) Yokeley

• Son - Dongene Yokeley

Estel (Pete) Yokeley holding son, Billy (3 months old)

Sisters - Bonnie & Virginia Nall at 1939 Vardeman Family Reunion in Marshall, MO

Bonnie & Virgil Wood in Marshall, MO with daughter-in-law, Renate Yokeley

Bonnie Nall Yokeley Wood's son's families

Dongene Yokeley with his children, Michael & Debbie, and Dongene's mother, Bonnie with her husband, Virgil Wood

Bonnie's Home in Marshall, MO

 Virgil & Bonnie Wood
in Nursing Home

Bonnie in nursing home visiting with son, Bill Yokeley
and daughter, Betty Harris

Estel (Pete) Yokeley's Obituary 1992

Bonnie Murle Nall Yokeley (Mom)

"She was a single mom trying to provide shelter, food, and clothing for three kids during the depression.  My mother was fortunate as the International Shoe Factory was hiring.  Mom worked there for 30 plus years.  We moved five times before I went into the service.  We moved in with Grandma a couple times during that period.  I didn't know why but now I think mom didn't have enough money to pay the rent.  We lived in two houses that didn't have inside plumbing.  Mom heated the bath water either on the coal oil stove or the potbelly stove.  We bathed in a washtub and I was usually the last one to bathe in the dirty water.  Mom made sure we each had duties around the house.

My sister, Betty, kept the house clean and my brother, Bill, and I would bring in the coal and corn cobs in the winter time and in summer made sure the lawn was kept up.  We all had jobs at an early age.  Bill and I sold vegetables and magazines and mowed people's lawns.  Around the age of thirteen we started delivering the Kansas City Star, twice daily.  I delivered the paper until I was a senior in high school.  We would bale hay for the farmers during the summers.  When summer was over and we went back to school our newspaper boss lady would always hire us back.  I know she knew our family needed the money.  Betty worked at the corner grocery store in the summer. 

Mom was very religious.  She taught Sunday School for over thirty years.  In the later years she taught people in their eighties and nineties.  We never had a car and I can remember the many times we walked to church in blizzard conditions.  My mom did not deserve such a hard life, yet even in the worst of times I never heard her complain.  She didn't have the energy or time to shower us with love but we knew she loved us.  In her later years Mom had dementia.  She never knew she outlived two of her children."

Estel (Pete) Yokeley (Father)

"I wondered why I didn't remember seeing my Dad when I was young. I was born in 1933 and he married Toots, his second wife in 1934. I have seen my Dad in his truck or walking in town but never close enough to speak. He owned a country store about eight miles from Marshall. I went there on two occasions. Once while on leave, I took my kids so they could see their grandfather and again on leave with Bill and his family. Dad and Toots had two children named Jimmy, the oldest, and Bobby. Dad out lived his wife and younger son, Bobby. Jimmy is also deceased. I know they both have families but I don't know their names or where they live."

Virgil Wood (Bonnie's Second Husband)

"While stationed in Germany I got a letter from Mom stating if it would be all right if she married Virgil Wood. I'm sure Betty and Bill were asked also. Everybody in town knew Virgil. His first wife died. He had a son, Rowland, who was one year younger than me in the Marines. Virgil was a part-time carpenter and local truck driver. Virgil was very benevolent. Mom had a big garden and sometimes when there were too many tomatoes he would put an ad in the paper offering free tomatoes. When he turned in his cans he gave money to the Crippled Children home in Marshall. I was quit surprised when I came home there was this 80_ man living there also. I know Mom was hurt. Virgil marries her and doesn't have a dime in his pocket. It seems he bought a franchise gas station and lost all his savings. In addition he had his father in a hotel room and shortly asked Mom if she would take in his Dad. Here Mom could finally rest a little and enjoy life but now she has to cook, wash and iron for two more people. I think Mom was happy and glad to have a man around the house. I know Mom never even looked at a man when we were growing up. All and all I think Mom was the happiest I had ever seen her."

Houses

Jut a note on how Mom got a house and later major improvements to it. Mom, Betty (8 months pregnant) and Buck were taking Mom back home to her house when they were in a head on collision. Buck was not hurt, Betty had no noticeable injuries but was worried about her first child, she later had a healthy baby. Mom got the worst of it, wound up with an injury to one shoulder and her forehead full of glass particles from the shattering of her glasses. Buck sued and that's how Mom got enough money to make the down payment for the house. Aunt Lizzy and Francis left money in their will to Mom and other relatives. That's how Mom got enough money to pay for the improvements. Virgil Wood being a carpenter was a plus in the reconstruction."

Letter and photos from Dongene Yokeley 23 November 2010. Thank you!