Francis “Casey” George Bonavia
February 21, 1926 - November 28, 2020
Francis “Casey” George Bonavia, the youngest of 11 children, born to Italian immigrants who settled in Sonora in the early 1900s, died peacefully on November 28, 2020 at the age of 94.
Casey’s full and honorable life started from humble beginnings. Joining four brothers and six sisters, Casey was born February 21,1926 on the Lyons Bald Mountain land his parents,
Angelo and Eleanor Bonavia homesteaded, after arriving in America. Except for his time in the service, Casey lived on this land until just before his death. For those who knew him, they knew it was hard to get Casey to budge from his family’s homesteaded mountain. He loved it dearly.
His memories of growing up in a large family during a much simpler time in Tuolumne
County were colorful and revealed his sentimental side. Casey often talked of how, as a young boy, he helped his father tend a huge garden, of the sort many turn-of-the-century Italian families who settled in the Sierra foothills grew, for both food and income. He would then accompany his dad by horse and buggy to deliver produce, sometimes as far off as the then-pickering Lumber Co. He was also daily tasked with hunting cottontail on the family property to assure there was enough food for everyone at dinnertime.
Casey graduated from Sonora High School in 1943 and soon after left for boot camp. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was aboard a ship bound for Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped. The ship was diverted to the Philippines. He later acknowledged that if not for that sudden assignment change, he may not have survived the war. Casey was honorably discharged in 1946.
Upon returning to Sonora, Casey worked as a lineman for the PG&E. He was later promoted to foreman and after more than 35 years with the company, he retired at age 55. While his work was dangerous and conditions were often extremely brutal, Casey always spoke with admiration and respect for his fellow crew members. He considered them like family.
Because of his love for breaking horses, Casey entered several local rodeos and in 1952 he won the Tuolumne County Bareback Riding Championship buckle that remained a prized possession to him for the rest of his life. Also, in 1991, Casey, a rodeo rider turned respected horse trainer, stepped out of his quiet cowboy comfort zone to proudly lead the Mother Lode Roundup Parade as Grand Marshall.
Apart from work and rodeos, Casey was also a devoted family man and father. He married a widow, Peggy, in 1957 and became an instant father with three young daughters under the age of six. He raised his three stepdaughters as if they were his own, giving them the same love and attention that he gave the one daughter that was born to him and Peggy, Casey Lee. While their marriage only lasted ten years or so, Casey’s loving kindness, generosity and role modeling would last a lifetime for his children.
After divorce and a brief stint as a bachelor, Casey found his match. He and the late Gail Bonavia were married in 1971 and together built Rancho di Bellafortuna, a horse boarding and training facility, on part of the Bonavia property. For decades the ranch drew people of all ages and abilities wanting to become better riders. Even after the couple’s horse activities slowed in recent years, their ranch and dining room table continued to draw the many friends they had made. Casey and Gail were married almost 50 years.
Casey will be long remembered among his family and many friends for values he never swayed from – integrity, kindness, generosity, a strong work ethic and faith, wisdom, humor, trustworthiness, honesty and loyalty – with a little stubbornness and a coy smile thrown in, too. He was a wonderful father, grandfather, brother, husband and friend. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
He is survived by his daughter, Casey Lee Bonavia of Tuolumne, sister Ethel Burgess of Sonora, stepdaughters, Lynn Dee Humphrey (Steve) of Sonora, Kelly Shepard (Mike) of Oregon, and Paula Vierra (Gary) of Oakdale, grandchildren Kelsie, Karlie, Danny, Joel, Kaitlyn, Caralee, Brian, Cory, Aimee, Jeremy and Annie, numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephew, Devon, Bonnie, Debbie and A.J.
In addition to his wife, Gail Bonavia, Casey was preceded in death by one stepdaughter, Laurie Humphrey, his four brothers, Sylvester, David, John, Ernest, and five sisters, Angelina, Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary and Eva.