Bonnie was born Oct. 29, 1932 on a farm south of Eldorado Springs, MO, the daughter of Hazel E. Bishop (Ammons) and Lawrence F. Bishop. During the depression years, Bonnie and her parents made three trips to the State of Washington for the apple harvest, returning to the family farm after the harvest. In 1941, the family eventually settled in Kansas City, MO, where Bonnie attended schools and graduated from Manual High School. She was employed at Peck’s department store. It was here she met her soul mate, Robert, who was an assistant buyer there.
Bonnie and Robert were married in 1950. When their only child, Sherry, was twelve, Bonnie returned to work. For the next twenty years, she worked for Hayes Hairdressing School, Inc. She traveled to many places in connection with her job. She helped compile cosmetology curriculum for cosmetology schools throughout the United States. Bonnie retired from Hayes Hairdressing, and after two years, she returned to work at Benchmark in home decorating and custom furniture. After five years, Bonnie retired again.
Over their married life, Bonnie and Robert traveled to many places, but Bonnie’s favorite was Hawaii. She attended the Christian Church and was baptized at age 13. She was a member of Overland Park Christian Church. Bonnie was an only child, but had a large extended family and thoroughly enjoyed family picnics and “get togethers.” She enjoyed sewing and was an accomplished seamstress. Bonnie also cooked many delicious family and holiday dinners.
Bonnie loved her family, which was her joy, happiness and life. We were very fortunate to have known her as wife, mom, Mema, and friend. She will forever live in our hearts and be dearly missed.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, on August 11, 2016.
She is survived by her daughter, Sherry Prince; her grandchildren, Heather Fry-Manchion and her husband David, and Joshua Fry; her great-grandchildren, Beau, Jacob, Faith, and Kaelyn; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Dee and Dave Cooke, Carolyn and Don Prince, and Larry Prince; as well as numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Visitation will be from 11:00-noon, Thursday, May 23, 2019, with funeral Services to follow at noon, all at Chapel Hill – Butler Funeral Home, 701 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas 66112. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Johnson County Mental Health, Wyandotte County Mental Health, or Carter Hospice.
