Bonnie Lou Starr, of Tucson, Arizona, passed away March 16, 2023. She is now with our Heavenly Father and her mother, Virginia Mitchell, her father, Holiday P. Mitchell and Brother Jim Mitchell, who preceded her in death.

Bonnie would have celebrated her 90th birthday on April 7th of this year.

She is survived by her husband of almost 72 years, Earl C. Starr, her son Shawn K. Starr, daughter-in-law Jodi R. Starr and grandson Brett K. Starr.

Bonnie’s true loves, while she shared this Earth with us, were her Savior Jesus Christ. Her husband Earl, they were inseparable, loving each other for over 74 years. Shawn, her son, Jodi his wife, and Brett her one and only grandson which God gifted to her at the age of 61. Her extended family of the Starr’s, Mitchell’s, Ryans and hundreds of friends, employees, and customers from her family business that Earl and her started in July of 1967. Her favorite quote to her customers was “We treat every customer like family whether they like it or not”. She offered sincere motherly advice to many of her young employees and customers alike.

Bonnie was born in the small town of Jonesboro, Indiana, in the home her father built, April 7th, 1933. She attended grade school and middle school in Jonesboro, then moved over to the new Mississinewa high school in Gas City, IN. Graduating the summer of 1951. Shortly after graduating, she married a young man named Earl Starr, July 1st, 1951. They had a son, Shawn, born in June, 1954. Both Bonnie and Shawn were having health issues so to help resolve these, they decided to pack what they could and in the summer of 1958 moved 1750 miles West to Tucson, AZ. Tucson was booming in growth and Earl found employment in his trade. In 1962 Earl applied and was accepted to the City of Tucson Fire Department. Bonnie and Earl opened a small business 1967, on 1st Avenue they called Starr Gem Shop. In 1969 they moved the store to 2650 N. Miracle Mile, finally moving to 220 W. Drachman St. in April 1974 as Starr Gems Inc. Bonnie made all three moves, retiring in 2003 to care for Earl.

She enjoyed camping, fishing, and traveling to see friends and family. She had a great love for several grand dogs through the years, mostly Ms. Holly who misses her dearly.

We are celebrating her life at Angel Valley Funeral Home, 2545 N. Tucson Blvd. Friday, March 31st, at 1:00 pm. We invite all who knew and loved Bonnie, to join us in this celebration.