Bonnie Grisso Parks

Bonnie Lee (Fortner) Grisso Parks, 91, longtime Seminole resident and educator, died Sunday, March 31, 2013, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, where she had lived for the past 7 years. Bonnie Lee was born May 7, 1921 in Cleora, Oklahoma to Walter Slaten and Margaret (Axley) Fortner. Bonnie Lee was a longtime educator in the Seminole Public School system. She first taught elementary education after she graduated from Oklahoma University in 1955. After teaching in the class room she became Director of Elementary Education, and later a school principal at Woodrow Wilson and Lincoln schools in Seminole. She also attended Seminole Junior College before going to Oklahoma University.  Bonnie Lee was active in speech and debate at Seminole High School and was a part of a national championship debate team;  graduating  from Seminole High School in 1939. She was a longtime member of the Seminole Church of Christ, where she was very active, and taught Sunday school for many years. She was a member of the Oklahoma Education Association and Seminole County Retired Teachers Association. She retired from education in 1983. Bonnie Lee loved to travel, and had traveled to all 50 States and 15 foreign countries. She also loved stamp collecting.  Bonnie Lee was married to Wayne Alden Grisso who preceded her in death on June 25, 1983. She later married Bill Parks on June 28, 1994 in Seminole, Oklahoma and he preceded her in death on March 21, 2006. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Wayne Alden Grisso Jr. and Judy Grisso of Shawnee, Oklahoma; a sister,  June Driver of Houston, Texas, two sisters-in-law; Ella Ruth Fortner of Duncan, Oklahoma and Pauline Grisso Martin of Coalgate, Oklahoma. She is also survived by her five grandchildren Wayne A. Grisso III, Kristi Lea Barnett, Heath Aaron Grisso, Shelli Dawn Reding and Darci Noel Thompson; thirteen great grandchildren, Ricci Reding, Reid Reding, Morgan Lea Barnett, Slaten Wayne Barnett, Autumn Layne Barnett, Grayson Eli Grisso ,Gatlin Levi Grisso, Gabreill Elizabeth Grisso, Graci Isabella Grisso, Cooper Aaron Grisso, Kate Carroll Grisso and Tinley Noel Thompson. Funeral services will be 1:30 P.M., Friday, April 5, 2013 at the Seminole Church of Christ on north highway 99 with Chris Stinnett  and her son Wayne Alden Grisso, Jr., officiating. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Trace Grisso, Heath Grisso, Jimmy Barnett, James Reding, Mark Thompson, Slaten Barnett and Reid Reding. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: April 5, 2013, 1:30 PM Seminole Church of Christ located at Hwy 99 North, Seminole, OK 74868