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BONNIE KATE MANNING SHIELDS, 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.

Tributes

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Karen Prater
September 1, 2016
September 1, 2016
My dear friend Bonnie,
  Through the years of managing the Pioneer House Restaurant, I hoped you realized how much you influenced the lives of others, young and old, customers and employees. You mentored a lot of young people by giving us a chance to challenge ourselves. Through your encouragement and advice it helped us grow with a newfound confidence. Due to your positive influence and support, we became better people. 
  It's been such a pleasure to have known you, Judge Shields and all of your family. I will greatly miss our visits and long phone conversations, catching up on our worlds and the world around us. How will I know who to vote for in the coming election without your advice.........Due to your many years in business, your husband Judge Shields and your thorough knowledge of history and the political system, you held profound beliefs of right and wrong. These beliefs always led to intelligent conversation and views of who would or would not make a good candidate for office, and why.
  After the Pioneer House closed, and we've kept in touch through the years, I realized, one day I will loose my dear friend. That day has arrived. You will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.
I will see you in heaven.
  Bailey, Leslie and Beth, I pray for Gods peace and his angels be with you.

Sincerely,

Karen Prater
Vicky Reynolds
September 1, 2016
September 1, 2016
Dear Bonnie you will be missed .your smile and laugh .You have a kind heart.Aunt Mildred loved you.you called her Cas.God bless your family.I always enjoyed your visits.I will always remember you.The Walker Family
Sandy B Greene
August 31, 2016
August 31, 2016
It wasn't Friday if we didn't have lunch at the Pioneer House. Missed it terribly when they closed. Missed especially the lovely Bonnie Kate who always had a smile for everyone.  Deepest sympathy to her loved ones.
Joe McCamish
August 30, 2016
August 30, 2016
LAND SAKES ALIVE MAMMY DONE GOT THE TABLE SET AND GOT HER APORN STARCHED AND ARNED SO SLICK THAT IF A FLY LIT ON IT, IT WOULD FALL OFF AND BREAK ITS NECK.

That's a sample of how every one of Bonnie's (Mammy) homilies would start - all caps, no punctuation, and usually poking fun at Yankees. For 20+ years, every month, Bonnie would make up another yarn to print in my monthly Knoxville Visitors Guide. And because I had to go by the Pioneer House to pick up her new copy, I would try and go at lunch time so I could eat vittles served in bowls, pick cornbread from baskets and wash it down with sweet tea - all country style.

But the real bonus was Bonnie sharing her opinions about news of the day, theories about what was really going on at McGee Tyson Airbase, or her making unflattering observations about politicians. It didn't matter if she was talking to me, a table full of suits, or dazed, dropped-jawed Yankees, she would let-it-fly. The whole room was going to hear about it.

I always left lunch grinning, slightly shaking my head, and wondering what they really were up to out on Airbase Road.
Lillian Hereau
August 30, 2016
August 30, 2016
Miss Bonnie,
I miss you so very much. I know you are at peace now and not in any pain. You were such an amazingly strong woman. Iwill never forget you.
I love you  RIP

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Recent Tributes
Karen Prater
September 1, 2016
September 1, 2016
My dear friend Bonnie,
  Through the years of managing the Pioneer House Restaurant, I hoped you realized how much you influenced the lives of others, young and old, customers and employees. You mentored a lot of young people by giving us a chance to challenge ourselves. Through your encouragement and advice it helped us grow with a newfound confidence. Due to your positive influence and support, we became better people. 
  It's been such a pleasure to have known you, Judge Shields and all of your family. I will greatly miss our visits and long phone conversations, catching up on our worlds and the world around us. How will I know who to vote for in the coming election without your advice.........Due to your many years in business, your husband Judge Shields and your thorough knowledge of history and the political system, you held profound beliefs of right and wrong. These beliefs always led to intelligent conversation and views of who would or would not make a good candidate for office, and why.
  After the Pioneer House closed, and we've kept in touch through the years, I realized, one day I will loose my dear friend. That day has arrived. You will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.
I will see you in heaven.
  Bailey, Leslie and Beth, I pray for Gods peace and his angels be with you.

Sincerely,

Karen Prater
Vicky Reynolds
September 1, 2016
September 1, 2016
Dear Bonnie you will be missed .your smile and laugh .You have a kind heart.Aunt Mildred loved you.you called her Cas.God bless your family.I always enjoyed your visits.I will always remember you.The Walker Family
Sandy B Greene
August 31, 2016
August 31, 2016
It wasn't Friday if we didn't have lunch at the Pioneer House. Missed it terribly when they closed. Missed especially the lovely Bonnie Kate who always had a smile for everyone.  Deepest sympathy to her loved ones.
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Written by Bonnie Shields
Written by Bonnie Shields
Written by Bonnie Shields
Written by Bonnie Shields
Written by Bonnie Shields
Written by Bonnie Shields
Written by Bonnie Shields
Written by Bonnie Shields
Written by Bonnie Shields
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Recent stories

Mammy Says

August 30, 2016
by Joe McCamish

For many years Bonnie used a reliable, steady, approach for marketing The Pioneer House Restaurant. She wrote these pieces using dry wit and her alter-ego Mammy. Locals knew and loved The Pioneer House but Bonnie advertised to reach new customers and visitors to the area. And since many visitors were getting off of airplanes just a little bit down Alcoa Highway, Bonnie appealed directly to them through the Knoxville's Visitors Guide, Panorama (my magazine) that was distributed all around the airport and in the area hotels.

Bonnie recognized the mass appeal to tourists of home cooking and our hillbilly culture. So, like Granny in the popular Beverly Hillbillies tv show, she too was gregarious, head-strong, wise, and lovable in her own cranky way.

She always had THE prime location in Panorama - the front inside cover. And over the years, every big restaurant in town requested that spot and was willing to pay a premium price. And everytime I meekly suggested she had something that everyone wanted, she let me know -- "You better not be thinking about raising my ad rate!" -- and I never did.

Attached is just one example of her genius marketing mind - you can read more in the photo gallery; 

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