Bonnie Elaine Vines
Bonnie Elaine Vines, a woman whose life was defined by unwavering Christian faith, a profound dedication to education, and an enduring love for her family and farm, passed away on June 2, 2025.
Born Bonnie Elaine Davis on Aug. 27, 1942, in Pennsylvania, Bonnie’s journey led her to touch countless lives.
Bonnie’s early life saw her move to northern Illinois at the age of 18. It was in Elgin, Ill, that she met and married Donald Lee Vines on June 30, 1963.
Together, they welcomed their only child, Jenni. The family’s roots deepened when they moved to a small farm outside Harvard, Ill., and later, on April 1, 1976, established their home on a gravel road in Cobden, which would fittingly come to be known as Vines Road.
Bonnie’s professional life was marked by her passion for teaching. After attending Shawnee College and Southern Illinois University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, she began her career as a 6th-grade teacher in Cobden.
Her commitment to her students led her to pursue a master’s degree in Gifted Education from SIU, after which she created the first gifted student program at Cobden Elementary.
Following her retirement from public school, Bonnie’s spirit and dedication to her faith inspired her to establish the Shawnee Hills Agape Folk School in Cobden. This private Christian school later relocated to Anna and was renamed Shawnee Hills Christian Academy, where Bonnie continued her mission of shaping young minds until her final retirement from her lengthy career in education.
Beyond her professional achievements, Bonnie was widely known as the “Goat Lady.” For nearly five decades, she devoted herself to raising Alpine Dairy Goats, even operating Shawnee Hills Caprine Dairy, a commercial venture, concurrently with her teaching career. Her farm was a vibrant hub, also home to large flocks of geese, ducks, and chickens, along with beloved dogs and the occasional bottle calf.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Lee Vines, who passed on May 30, 2023, and her parents, Jobie and LaRue Davis. Her legacy lives on through her daughter, Dr. Jenni Baggott and her husband, Jake Baggott, of Dodgeville, Wisc.
She is also survived by her four cherished grandchildren: Robbie Williams (fiancé Olivia Bowles) of Birmingham, Ala., Ryan Baggott of Southeast Missouri, Alisha Morti (husband Daniel) of Carterville, Ill., and Richard Baggott of Chattanooga, Tenn.
Bonnie is also survived by her sister, Cindy Vines of Anna; five brothers: Doug, Randy (wife Rindy), Barry, Jeff (wife Donna), and Bruce, all residing in Pennsylvania; and sister-in-law Shirley Vines of Jonesboro. Her extensive family included many nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of whom held a special place in her heart.
Bonnie possessed a rare gift for connecting with people, and it was often said that she knew no strangers.
This remarkable quality was perhaps best exemplified during a pilgrimage to Israel, where, in a serendipitous encounter, a shopkeeper recognized her from many years earlier, remembering her as the “Miss Bonnie” who provided his family with goat’s milk when he was a young child in the United States. This unforgettable moment speaks volumes about the indelible mark Bonnie left on those she met.
Her unwavering faith, her profound impact as an educator, her dedication to her family and farm, and her extraordinary ability to touch lives will be her lasting legacy.
Funeral services were on Friday, June 6, at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna with Pastor Jason Forby officiating. Interment followed at the Ebenezer Hall Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are preferred to the Union County 4-H. Envelopes will be available at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home.