Bonnie Kate Shields

Bonnie Kate Manning Shields, age 94, of Knoxville, passed away at Little Creek Sanitarium on Sunday, August 28, 2016, where she had been a patient since July of 2015. She was born in Claiborne County, TN, on August 13, 1922, to Bailey and Maggie Manning of Tazewell. She moved to Blount County, TN, as a young girl to live on what is now known as the Lambert Farm with grandparents Ben & Eva Rose, and on the Manning Farm in Spring City, TN with grandparents Noah & Hannah Manning. She graduated from Alcoa High School before going to work for ALCOA during World War II. Bonnie achieved her private pilot license at Knoxville airport in 1945 at the age of 23, becoming a barnstormer and wing walker in local air shows. She met her future husband, the late Judge Perry Shields, a native of Blount County, while she was managing the Duck Inn (formerly Air Castle) near the airport. Although Judge Shields was still in recovery from losing his leg in World War II, Mrs. Shields was a great support and influence to him in his effort to become an attorney and a judge. They married in 1950 after his discharge from the US Army and graduation from Duke Law School. While married and living in Knoxville raising their family, she also managed for over thirty years the Pioneer House Restaurant which she and her two sisters, Evelyn Anderson and Rose Ridings, inherited from their mother, Maggie Rose Manning Love. The Pioneer House Restaurant was a family business that operated for more than 60 years in Blount County at the intersection of Airbase Road and Alcoa Highway. Mrs. Shields is survived by: son & daughter-in-law, Bailey & Ann Shields of Maryville, TN; daughter, Leslie Shields Lewis and son-in-law, Scott Lewis of Knoxville, TN, and daughter, Katy Beth Shields of Madison, AL; three grandchildren, Cooper Shields Lewis, Karen Elizabeth Shields, and Kevin Reed Shields; sisters, Evelyn Anderson of California and Rose Ridings of Kingston, TN; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Shirley & Wade Shields; numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend a special thanks to caregivers, Lillian Hereau and Carolyn Thacker along with the staff of Little Creek Sanitarium. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: Friendsville First Baptist Church, 403 N Farnum Street, PO Box 116, Friendsville, TN 37737 or Webb School of Knoxville. Family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM, Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at Smith Trinity Chapel, Maryville, TN. Family and friends will assemble for graveside service and interment at 11:00 AM, Thursday, September 1, 2016 at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Townsend, TN. To view a more pictures, a more detailed biography and leave condolences, remembrances, and pictures, please visit Bonnie-Shields.forevermissed.com. and Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Bonnie Kate Shields please visit our Sympathy Store.