Remembering Art Bonot

It was a Legion funeral for our good neighbour and friend Arthur Bonot, who passed away at La Verendrye Hospital Wednesday morning after a long struggle with diabetes and its complications.
Both Art and his late wife, Dorothy, were our “across the back yard” neighbours, frequently visiting and enjoying each other’s company.
Art enjoyed various sports activities, his favourite being baseball and curling, participating in them consistently. A member of the Legion, he was in charge of sporting programs and made sure the Legion ballpark was in excellent playing shape.
He was a player-coach for the Emo Legion baseball team for a good number of years, a solid team in the Rainy River District Fastball League. Art had an under-hand curve, especially the one you could see coming but not hit.
As years passed by, Arthur got older, and handed the reins over to others to manage it.
His other sport was curling, having a team in the regular schedule at the curling rink. The team was hard to defeat, having their share of luck. My wife, Adelia, played lead for him and remembers his remark: “Get down here and don’t be light.”
He competed in bonspiels throughout the district and out-of-town, coming home with the teams’ share of prizes.
Art loved his family, and those grandkids were special. Through his lifespan, he was a true volunteer, willing to participate—he did not have to be asked twice.
Art was a sportsman, gentleman, good loser and proud to win in between. He headed the Legion Athletic Program, looking to keep the programs active. He focused on young people to succeed.
For Art’s part in the RRDFL, he was inducted into the district Hall of Fame a few years ago, something he without a doubt deserved.
His funeral ws held Wednesday afternoon at St. Patrick’s in Emo. Deacon George Chojko-Bolec officiated. The organist was Mary Curtis, while the soloist, Cindy Judson, performed two selections: “In the Garden” and “Amazing Grace.”
The eulogy ws given by granddaughter Jackie McCormick, while the scripture reading was done by granddaughters, Giselle Bonot and Shannon Jackson.
Noticeable in their attendance were ballplayers whom Art played against. Friends and relatives came from Winnipeg, Red Lake, Kenora, South Korea, Atikokan and locally the district.
On the casket was a spray of red roses, and red and white carnations. There also was a ball and bat entwined. This was symbolic of his love of sports.