ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — If you’ve been to the Chevron at the corner of Alabama 59 and Silverhill Avenue in Robertsdale over the last 17 years, you might not have known her name, but you probably remember her face.

When she was there, everyone entering the store was greeted with a smile and a warm “Hello,” along with a warm “Goodbye,” on their way out.

She was also known as Robertsdale’s “Cat Lady,” taking care of many cats around the store and in her neighborhood, giving homes to some while finding homes for others.

Over the past few weeks, if you hadn’t already heard, you’ve probably noticed that her smiling face and friendly greetings have been missing from the store.

On Friday, May 12, Bonnie Carlson suffered a stroke at the place where she had gone to work for the last 17 years. She was rushed to the hospital, but sadly did not recover. She was 74.

“She was such a caring person,” said Kathy Kolonis, who served as manager of the store and worked with Bonnie for three years. “There was never a time that she did not have a smile on her face.”

While she had family scattered across the country, Kolonis said, she had no family close by. She did have a few friends who looked after her. Friends like Doug and Virgine Babcock.

“She was like a sister to me for almost 20 years,” Virgine Babcock said. “I miss her terribly.”

Ken and Dorothy Morgan were her next door neighbors and also very close, serving as her land lorgs, Babcock said.

“They were so good to her and have been so good to us,” she said.

Kolonis has set up a Go Fund Me page called Bonnie Carlson Funeral Expenses which, as of Thursday, May 25, had raised nearly $500 of its $1,500 goal and has nearly 400 Facebook shares with glowing testimonies of people who knew her or at least had casual contact with her.

A memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 1 at the Church of Latter Day Saints in Foley.

Homes are also being sought for several cats that Bonnie was taking care of at the time of her death. If you would like information about the cats you can contact Virgine Babcock at 251-550-2098.