Bonnie A. Mitchell

The world has lost a force of nature. Bonnie Mitchell, a resident of Fishers, passed away at home on August 18, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was 80.

She was born Bonnie Ida Nora Shearer, but like many things in her life, she redefined her name on her own terms, becoming Bonnie Ann Shearer during confirmation.

Bonnie was born as the fourth child of Wilhelmina and Henry “Babe“ Shearer in the Haughville area of Indianapolis. She attended Sacred Heart High School, graduating in 1960, and she married Larry Mitchell in 1962.

Known to her employees as “Two Guns A-Blazing Bonnie,” she refused to accept society’s expectations for women and always did things her way. Girls can’t take drafting class in high school in the 1950s – so she does it anyway. You can’t own your own boat as a young lady – so she buys her first one at age 19. You can’t have a professional career without a college degree – so she achieves the highest level of designation as a commercial appraiser and is the first female MAI-designated appraiser in the State of Indiana. It’s hard to start your own company as a woman in 1988 – so she starts Mitchell Appraisals (now Valbridge Property Advisors and still going strong) anyway. You’re not supposed to start a new company at age 68 – so she starts Mitchell Market Analysts in 2010 anyway (also still going strong). You can’t work in your 70s AND take care of your husband declining into dementia – so she does it anyway, until he needs too much care. You can’t have congestive heart failure and stage 4 cancer and keep living life to the fullest – so she does it anyway. Just don’t tell her she can’t do something.

Bonnie is survived by her children and their spouses: Jennifer and Brian Atkinson of Fishers, Luci Mitchell Van Valer of Fishers, and Lawrence and Heather Mitchell of Zionsville. She is also survived by her beloved sister, Wilma Reilly. She is predeceased by her parents, her husband, her brother Chuck Springman, and her sister Donna Holtzclaw Constiner. Bonnie treasured her grandchildren and their spouses, who are all brilliant, loving, and beautiful, just like their grandmother. They include Taylor (Atkinson) and Amir Abbas, Elizabeth (Mitchell) and Ehren Elder, Claire Atkinson and fiancé James Flett, Samantha Mitchell, Grace Atkinson, Meredith Mitchell, Martha Van Valer, and Joseph Van Valer.

Bonnie had many passions over the years, including sewing, euchre, quilting, crafting, and more, but her greatest passion was supporting, empowering, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. When her kids were in high school, she sewed costumes for the theater department and volunteered with the marching band. Bonnie and Larry attended every marching band contest, band concert, jazz band contest, theater performance, golf match, and basketball game. When grandchildren came along, Bonnie and Larry started attending soccer matches and cross country meets, then tennis matches, show choir performances, choir concerts, band and jazz band concerts, ice skating competitions, marching band shows, swim meets, and more. She was able to attend a portion of her youngest grandchild’s high school graduation in May of this year, fulfilling what would become one of her final wishes. Bonnie will be interred with her Grandmother’s Necklace, with a tiny stone representing each of her grandchildren.

More recently, Bonnie was a member of the American Sewing Guild, the Red Hatters of Hamilton County (Snap Snap and a Clap Clap), and the Newcomers Group of Fishers. In the past, she was a much-respected commercial real estate appraiser, awarded the Edward L. White Achievement Award by the Hoosier State Chapter of the Appraisal Institute in 2002 for her contributions to the profession. She mentored countless new appraisers, including a significant number of women in a male-dominated field. Bonnie’s legacy is one of living fearlessly, loving passionately, and never, ever taking no for an answer.

Visitation will be at the Good Shepherd Chapel, located at Flanner & Buchanan Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Fishers on Saturday, August 27, from 1:30 to 3:00. A short service will be held at 3:00. For those of you who come to the visitation or service, Bonnie decreed that it will be full of color and sparkles. She asked that no one wear black.

In memory of Bonnie, be generous with your time, your attention, and your assets. Reject the rules and find your own path. You can also make a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital here: St. Jude

To view the livestream of the service, please click here.