Bonney M Sayre

May 13, 1916 – July 25, 2012

Bonney McDonald Sayre was born May 13, 1916, at the family home in Buena Vista, Colorado, and died July 25, 2012, in Grand Junction, Colorado. She attended Buena Vista schools through high school, graduating in 1934, graduated from the University of Colorado in 1938, a member of Alpha Phi sorority, then continued her education at Western State Teachers College in Gunnison, Colorado. Her first teaching position was in Telluride, Colorado, where she met mining engineer Robert H. Sayre, Jr. of Denver and Rollinsville, Colorado. Following their marriage on September 16, 1939, she lived with him in many mining areas as he worked mines and staked claims, spending one winter in a floorless tent in Wild Steer Canyon near Uravan, Colorado. With Bob a U.S. Army Captain in World War II, they lived in Virginia until he enlisted in the 10th Mountain Division and returned to Colorado to train at Camp Hale until deployed to Italy, where he led his Ski Troops to fight the battle of Riva Ridge. During the war Bonney Sayre remained in Buena Vista with her parents and two children. Returning to mining, the Sayres moved many more times, then settled in Grand Junction during the uranium boom. A resident of Grand Junction since 1951, Bonney Sayre was active as an officer and president of local and state Parent Teacher Associations, as well as a contributing member of Women's Auxiliary of the American Institute of Mining Engineers (WAAIME), Colorado School of Mines Alumni Association, Society of Mining Engineers, Garden Club, Girl Scouts, Grand Mesa Chapter of Sweet Adelines (charter member), Toastmistress and Toastmaster Clubs, the Grand Junction Tennis Club and First Church of Christ, Scientist. As a businesswoman she was one-third owner of Moab Blueprint Company in Moab, Utah, and later worked for ten years for The Daily Sentinel in its news and advertising divisions. Bonney and Bob endowed a Colorado School of Mines scholarship fund for students, and in 2004 she was present in Golden, Colorado, to receive the Colorado School of Mines Honorary Membership Award. Robert H. Sayre preceded her in death on April 30, 2002.Revered by her husband and family, Bonney McDonald Sayre was a true lady whose influence will be felt for many generations. A memorial service will be held on Friday. August 3, 2012, at Martin Mortuary beginning at 1:30 p.m. Condolences may be left for the family at www.martinmortuary.com. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, 3090B N 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81506.

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