Bonnie Hernon

Bonnie Lee Hernon

9/11/38-6/11/23

Renowned musician and educator, Bonnie Hernon, age 84, died Sunday, June 11, 2023, at her residence.

Bonnie was an honor graduate of Owensboro Senior High School in Owensboro, Kentucky. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Murray State University, Master of Music degree from the University of Miami, and completed her All But Dissertation Doctoral of Music degree from North Texas University. She also received add-on endorsements in Administration and Supervision from Western Kentucky University and Special Education from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Throughout her education, Bonnie had the privilege to study with renowned musicians including John Haynie, Helen Hewitt, Leo Kraft, and Robert Ottman.

In a career spanning fifty years, Mrs. Hernon taught vocal and instrumental music at Daviess County Schools, Fulton City Schools, Murray City Schools, Obion County Schools, and Weakley County Schools. She also held positions at Brescia College where she served as department chair, and was on faculty at the University of Tennessee at Martin and Dyersburg State Community College.

In addition to her teaching duties, Hernon was an active performer and held trumpet positions in the Hollywood Florida Symphony, Miami Symphony Orchestra, Women’s Symphony of Miami, Evansville Philharmonic, Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, Mid-West Orchestra, Jackson Symphony Orchestra, Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Instant Replay Big Band, UTM Faculty Brass Quintet, UTM Brass Trio, Owensboro Brass Ensemble, and the Light Opera of Miami.

As a testament to her dedication to music education, Hernon won numerous awards including the 2000 Women of Achievement, Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, Who’s Who of American Women, Outstanding Young Women of America, Sigma Alpha Iota Rose of Honor, Sigma Alpha Iota Sword of Honor and Leadership Award, Phi Beta Mu International School Bandmaster’s Fraternity, Outstanding Teacher Governor’s School Award in 1994 and 1996, UTM Outstanding Teacher Award, and the John Phillip Sousa Hall of Fame. She was also commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel.

Mrs. Hernon held lifetime memberships with the International Trumpet Guild, Sigma Alpha Iota, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi, MENC, NEA, TEA, TMEA, WTSBOA, TBA, and Phi Beta Mu.

Bonnie was the dearest and best wife, mother, grandmother, educator, colleague, friend, and hero to so many. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hubert and Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Huffman, her brothers, Bennie Huffman and Johnnie Huffman, her sisters-in-law, Claudia Huffman, Nancy Jo Huffman, and Shelby Huffman, her husband, Michael A. Hernon, and her beloved son, Michael Benjamin Hernon.

She is survived by her daughter, Terri Hernon of Martin; her grandchildren, Alyssa Hernon of Berkeley, California, Alexis Arnold of Brooklyn, New York, and Elizabeth Harrison of Kissimmee, Florida; her brothers, Bobby Huffman of Boonville, Indiana, Danny Huffman and wife, Ali, of Owensboro, Kentucky, Ricky Huffman of New Harmony, Indiana; her sister, Vicki Wallace of Owensboro, Kentucky, and countless nieces and nephews.  

Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 24, 2023 at Noon at First Baptist Church in Martin. Visitation will begin at 9:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made via donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Special Olympics.