Bonita Gail Marcott Elfstrom, age 80, passed away peacefully at her
Mount Vernon home July 15, 2024, with her husband of 63 years at her
side.
Bonita was born in 1943, in Seattle, to Rolland and Juanita Marcott. The
family - three boys and a girl - moved to Mount Vernon in 1949 to operate
the Knotty Pine Tavern. Following the death of her younger brother, Don, to
polio in 1951, Bonita and her brother, Lonny, moved to Yakima to live with
their grandmother. They moved back to the Bay View area of Skagit
County in 1954 after their mother remarried Don Otis. The family - which
later included a daughter Linda - lived on a small farm and Bonita attended
Burlington schools, graduating from Burlington-Edison High School in
1961.
Bonita met her future husband, Gene Elfstrom, when she was 15. Their
first date in 1959 was a trip to the drag races at the Bay View airport,
followed by a Doris Day movie "Please Don't Eat the Daisies." They
became fast friends and married on May 6, 1961.
The couple moved to Bossier City, Louisiana, where Gene was stationed
at Barksdale Air Force Base. They got their first dog, "Tina," a terrier mix,
from a grocery store; and Bonita took an art class by mail. From this point
forward, dogs and art would figure prominently in Bonita's life.
Bonita returned to Bay View when Gene was transferred to Puerto Rico,
and they stayed in the Skagit Valley upon his return. Bonita and Gene
welcomed a daughter, Venita, to the family on March 14, 1963. They
bought their Mount Vernon home in 1968 and started their photography
business, Elf Photo, in 1972. Bonita and Gene worked alongside each
other in the business, he the photographer and she the bookkeeper.
Bonita's artistic flair was an asset to the family and the business. She took
sewing classes and sewed clothes for the family; kept a beautiful garden
and even drew pictures as favors for guests at Venita's birthday parties.
She and Gene went dancing at least once every week. A lifelong learner,
she had a fondness for German Shepherds, took dog training classes and
read every resource she could find about dogs.
Bonita was a Camp Fire leader for a brief time before discovering the 4-H
program. The animal and youth development aspects appealed to her, and
she soon assumed leadership of the Tails Up Dog 4-H Club with co-leader
Shirley Stiles. The duo ran the club for over 50 years and brought the first
dog exhibit to the Skagit County Fair, operating the dog show out of the
back of Bonita's station wagon. They eventually secured a lean-to for the
exhibit and Bonita served as the fair's dog 4-H superintendent for 25
years. She later added a veterinary science project to her club and
mentored many budding veterinarians. She and Shirley continued to teach
dog agility to county 4-H kids and hosted an annual 4-H agility trial on her
family's property up until 2024. She judged record books, public
presentations, ran the county fair vet check and mentored new leaders.
She became a community resource for people with dog questions; Venita
recalls her fielding questions on all aspects of training and care. "She was
in the business of helping people," Gene said.
Bonita is survived by her husband, Gene Elfstrom, Mount Vernon;
daughter, Venita Van Horst, Mount Vernon; brother Lonny and his wife
Lucky (Norma) Marcott, Lacey, Wash.; half sister Linda Stotts, Burlington;
niece Pamala Robieson, Granite Falls, Wash.; granddaughters Nikkita
Riley, Tenino, Wash., and Toria Van Horst, Portland; and great�granddaughters Morgan and Dahlia Riley, Tenino.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Juanita Otis and Rolland
Marcott; stepfather Don Otis; brothers Dale and Don Marcott, and sister�in-law Patricia Marcott.
There are no immediate plans for a service. Memorials can be made to
Skagit County 4-H Leaders Council or the Humane Society of Skagit
Valley.