Bonnie Jean (BJ) Sibley

Bonnie Jean (BJ) Sibley, a Lab retiree who held positions in public affairs and emergency response, died Dec. 29, at her Livermore home after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 68.

Born on Feb. 25, 1943 in Waltham, Mass., she was part of a military family, attending grade school in the United States and high school in Taiwan.

She was a young military wife, living in many of the southern states as well as overseas.  While raising her two young sons, Geoffrey and Gregory, she began her career as a television journalist and personality at WTVY in Dothan, Alabama. 

In 1994, she married Richard Sibley. She spent much of her life as an active member of the Livermore community. She was a radio personality at KKIQ, a reserve police officer at the Livermore Police Department and worked at LLNL.

She was very proud of the work she did in service to others as a member and leader in Rotary International, traveling to Africa and Mexico to participate in programs that benefitted children and local communities. She was a strong believer in public service and volunteered at a variety of organizations that supported women in crisis.

After retiring from the Lab, she and her husband moved to Twain Harte, Calif., where they built their dream home. She quickly became an integral member of the community through her work on the Sierra Mountain Times and Twain Harte Times. Recently, she published a compilation of her works in a book entitled, “Musings."

Sibley was a creative spirit, embracing an array of artistic outlets including doll making, painting, sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting and jewelry making.

She also enjoyed participating in the Sweet Adeline’s singing group for many years.

She is survived by her husband, Richard Sibley; her sons, Geoff and Greg Jeppson; her stepdaughters, Jennifer Day and Melisa Sibley; her grandsons, Forest Jeppson, Carson Jeppson and Gryphon Day; her siblings, Joan Beason, Barbara Boberg, Teddie Kirk, James Schofield and Stephanie Sotelo; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Callaghan Mortuary in Livermore on Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 1 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Rotary International’s Polio Plus Program, c/o Twain Harte Rotary, PO Box 307, Twain Harte CA, 95383.