Mary Alice Bonner

Celebrating the Life of Mary Alice (M.A.) Bonner January 5, 1944 - July 20, 2026 There are some people who leave such a lasting impression that you never forget them. Mary Alice Bonner, or M.A., as everyone knew her, was one of those people. M.A. passed away peacefully at Gilchrist Center Towson on July 20. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Virginia and Harry Turner, and her brother, Bob Turner. At 4 feet and 9 inches tall, M.A. was a teeny ball of energy with a big smile. To know her was to love her. And even if you only crossed paths with her once, chances are you remembered her for years afterward. Her greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her loving children, Linda Altemus and her husband, Mark; Trish Dunbar and her longtime partner, Steve McNear; Michael Bonner; and Alison White and her husband, Glenn. She was an incredibly proud grandmother to Lindsey (Trevor), Laura (Stuart), Charlie, Alexis, Nicholas, Braden, and Evan, and a bonus grandmother to Justin and Kylie. Nothing made her happier than becoming "Great Grandma" to Flynn, Bennett, Nellie, and Scarlett. She is also lovingly remembered by her sister-in-law, Susan Turner, her nephew, Robert (Julie), her niece, Cara (Frank), and her former husband and father to her children, Lee Bonner. M.A. approached life with an energy that seemed to defy the laws of nature. She never slowed down. Friends often joked that she was the Energizer Bunny, always on the move with her signature short haircut. If you lived in Stoneleigh, you probably remember seeing her rollerblading through the neighborhood. She was impossible to miss, and she will be impossible to forget. She had a way of making people feel seen. During her many years waitressing at Towson restaurants, her regulars didn't just return for the food. They came back hoping M.A. would be working. She remembered names and treated everyone like an old friend. Decades later, people still talked about "their waitress, M.A." Her adventurous spirit began early. Some of her happiest childhood memories were spent at her grandmother's family home on Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey. Alongside her dear friend Carol, she started a cheesecake business called CaroMay, combining their names as they baked and sold cheesecakes to local restaurants. She and Carol also volunteered together at GBMC. She even earned a fun claim to fame when she was mentioned in the 1960s hit song Life's Too Short by The Lafayettes with the lyric, "M.A., she's cool enough." Anyone who knew her would agree, that lyric fit her perfectly. She was never one to sit still. She loved boating on the Chesapeake Bay with her family, especially the overnight trips to Fairlee Creek that became treasured family traditions with her own children. She had a love for tennis that extended beyond just playing – she had a yearly tradition of attending the U.S. Open in New York with two of her daughters, and she volunteered as a security guard at the Legg Mason tennis tournament in Washington, DC. She also danced at the Wally Saunders Dance Studio, bowled in a league, proudly marched in the Towson Fourth of July Parade, and rarely passed up an opportunity to have fun. Even in her later years, M.A.'s calendar stayed full. She cared for local seniors, dedicated her time to delivering Meals on Wheels, was a regular participant in Zumba classes at the YMCA, walked the mall with friends, and never missed a chance to cheer from the sidelines at her grandchildren's games. She genuinely enjoyed people, and people genuinely enjoyed being around her. She also made many cherished memories at her home in Stoneleigh. For years, family and friends looked forward to her Christmas Eve parties, where Johnny Mathis was playing on the record player, the famous whiskey sours were served, and everyone felt welcome. She had a gift for bringing people together, because she made everyone feel like they belonged. M.A.'s greatest legacy is the lives she touched in her 82 years. Her family, her friends, and her neighbors. She showed us that the best way to live is to stay curious, stay active, keep smiling, and never stop connecting with people. She leaves behind a family who adored her, friends who will miss her deeply, and a community that is better because she was part of it. She will be missed beyond words and remembered for generations to come. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, the beloved charity M.A. spent hours volunteering for. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Details will be announced by the family once they are finalized.