Mildred Ann Bohning

We touch people mostly without touching them: with our words, with the smile from our eyes, with our courage, with our madness. We leave a legacy, like footprints where we travel, we leave our fingerprints upon every heart we touch. If success in life is measured by the number of lives we’ve touched, then the world has lost one of the most successful women of modern history. Mildred Ann Chenault Bohning was born September 16, 1926, to Jesse Alden Chenault and Grace Ethyl Jones Chenault in Fort Worth, Texas. After graduating from high school in Arlington Heights, Mildred met Robert DeForest (Bob) Bohning while he was attending University of Texas at Arlington. They met at church, where Mildred was in charge of thanking visitors who came to Sunday School and extending them an invitation to return. Bob was the only visitor to ever write her back and explain why he would be unable to return for a few weeks. On June 20, 1947, they were married and remained so for 6 months shy of 59 years. Early in their marriage, Bob was in the United States Army Air Corp and later worked at American Airline as a mechanic, affording the couple the opportunity to call San Antonio, TX, and Tulsa, OK, “home” for a period of time. With each and every move came friendships that lasted a lifetime. Mildred’s meticulous dedication to any commitment led her to work as a secretary for Oilwell while living in Tulsa. However, in 1950, Bob and Mildred were called back to Lometa to care for Bob’s mother and run the family ranch. Mildred became a homemaker and was the caregiver to Davida (Bob’s mother) while Bob ranched and was Postmaster of Lometa for 35 years. This is where Mildred truly shined. While living and raising their family of four children, Mildred was very active in church and community. She and Bob were active members of Lometa United Methodist Church and raised their children to be active and conscientious members of society. By example, Mildred was a Choir member, served on the church board, and youth fellowship leader. She organized many tri-county meetings and many covered dish dinners, always bringing enough food to almost feed the entire church. No one would complain, as Mildred could create magic with food. Her relationship with God, her family and Church were very important parts of her life. Family was everything to Mildred. For years, she was an active member of the PTO, United Way, American Legion Auxiliary, Lions Club, Boy Scout Den Mother, and Girl Scout Leader. Each and every summer, Bob and Mildred, unbeknowingly, ran “Camp Bohning,” welcoming many city raised nieces and nephews, followed by grandchildren, to the ranch for extended stays, where they learned what the country life was really all about. Memories made during those stays are permanently etched in the hearts of so many. Grandkids, visitors, deer hunters and friends always felt welcomed at the Bohning home. You could count on amazing homemade cookies, a properly set table and a delicious meal always beginning with saying grace. One of her very favorite pastimes was playing bridge. She was a member of Our Little Mountain Bridge Club from the time she moved to Lometa playing bridge weekly into her mid 80’s. She would drop any activity in order to play a good game of bridge! Even though she was not much of an outdoor woman, after moving to Lometa she learned to shoot a shotgun. This was a necessary skill living in the country. She enjoyed dove hunting and was expert shot with her 16 gauge, but did not get to enjoy hunting very often since she was usually the one at the house getting ready to feed all the hungry hunters. Her dead eye came in handy taking care of all the “critters” that found their way to the house. She was a real trooper when her last two daughters began to show calves. Contrary to her personality, she spent countless hours at stock shows, much of which was spent on the backend of the steer ratting the tails. Here they gained an entire new circle of lifelong friends. Mildred was a lifelong resident of Lometa until the last 5 years of her life. When her health began to fail, Mildred’s granddaughter, Melissa and husband Sergio, diverted the direction of their lives, and she and her family welcomed her with open arms as part of their family unit providing the very best care a person could ask for. They all learned so much from one another, developing a very special bond to the point that, at supper a couple of weeks ago, she announced that her name was now Mildred Ann Chenault Bohning Bautista. She certainly became an integral part of the entire family. Mildred was one amazing, strong woman that touched and helped mold so many lives. One of the most successful women we may ever know, she will be missed, but her legacy will remain and live on in the hearts of everyone who loved her. Mildred was preceded in death by husband, Bob, sisters: Irene Davis, Margaret Goodrich, Evelyn Gage, Mary Alice Ewing; brothers: Tommy and Norman Chenault; grandson: Stephen David Vance; son-in-law: Jay Golden; and longtime ranchforman Arl Hightower. Left to remember her are: son, Robert Bohning, Jr. (Doretha) and daughters Nancy Gillespie (Dexter), Dee Golden, and Vivian Blackburn (Ben) , brother-in-law James Ewing, sister-in-laws Celeste Bohning, Frances Chenault and Betty Gibbons, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Lampasas. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to Lometa First United Methodist Church, Lampasas County Food Fair, or charity of your choice. Philippians 1:3- I thank my God upon every remembrance of you