Celesta Faith Bondurant-Cole

Celesta Faith Schaben Bondurant – Cole, entered her heavenly home on Aug. 23, 2016 at the age of 87. Celesta was one of 11 children born to Herman and Florence Schaben on a farm near Bazine, Kansas on Aug. 31, 1928. Her early years were spent helping care for her younger siblings and learning the discipline of hard work on the family farm. After graduating from Bazine High School, and she attended college, becoming a teacher, and taught in a one room school house. Celesta married her high school sweetheart, Howard Bondurant in 1948. Together they raised four children and were devoted to each other for 51 years until his death in 1999. They moved to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1967. She contributed to the family income with multiple jobs, from sewing and alterations, babysitting, working at a bank, bookkeeping, to working at a local electronics plant. She and Howard went on to operate Taco Bell restaurants, and later the Country Peddler gift shop in Prescott. Regardless of where they lived, they served faithfully in their local Baptist church. Celesta accepted Christ as her Savior at a young age and her life was a reflection of that commitment. A somewhat shy woman, she was kind and loving to all she met. She was dependable and persevered with courage and faith regardless of the circumstances she faced. Her 14 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren remember her smile and encouragement, and eager to read to them. She loved playing board games, card games, and dominoes with her family. After Howard’s death, she found companionship, love and joy with an old high school friend, William Cole, and they married in 2003. Celesta is survived by her husband William Cole, of Bazine, Kansas; children Gary (Louise) Bondurant of Kansas City, Ks; Monty (Chris) Bondurant of Clarkdale, AZ; Cindy (Mark) VanHoesen of Peoria, AZ and Tammy (Drew) Mitchell of Glendale, AZ. Siblings include Carol Allen, Donna Thomason, Marlene Wyatt, Robert Schaben, and Troy Schaben. She leaves 14 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to Hospice of the Valley https://www.hov.org/ or 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014.