Ishmael Wayne Bonner

The family will receive guests on Friday, January 04, 2019 from 6pm to 8pm in the Griggs Schooler Gordon Pioneer Chapel, 5400 Bell Street in Amarillo, Texas. Funeral Services will follow on Saturday, January 05, at 10am in the Pioneer Chapel with Pastor Jerry Davey presiding. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Amarillo.

Ishmael Wayne Bonner was born in Bowie County Texas on June 17, 1931 as the third child of Silas Grant Bonner and Ophelia Lenoma Birdwell. With the later addition of another sister and brother, he became the classic middle child. He went by many names during his lifetime, Ishmael by family, I.W. professionally and his favorite name of all, Bunts by his grandchildren. He died in his home in Sumner, Texas on January 1, 2019 at the age of 87. Mr. Bonner graduated high school at the age of 15 and went to work for Sears Roebuck as a worker on the shipping and receiving dock. 25 years later he was promoted to assistant store manager and transferred to the new facility in Amarillo. He later retired from Sears and worked for Iowa Beef Processors and Koch Supply. In October of 1950, Ishmael married Dolly Fay Coley They were married 44 years until her death in 1994. They raised three daughters, Carmella Thea, Armanda Gayle and Karen Denise. In May of 1995 he wed Edith Terry Lacey and after over 23 years of marriage is his surviving spouse.

He is survived by his daughters, Carmella Jones, Mandy Steward and Denise Buchanan wife of Robert Buchanan and son Brant Lacey. Nine grandchildren, Jessica Jones McIver, Christopher Steward, Sonya Getman, Charles Lacey, Chris Lacey, Bryan Lacey, Brittany Morgan wife of Cash Morgan, and Brandon Lacey. Surviving great grandchildren are Emily McIver, Hanna Steward, Braden Getman, Hayden Steward, Bryson Getman, Grace McIver, Moses McIver, Charlotte Rose Lacey and Calvin Lacey. Ishmael Bonner has one surviving sibling, his brother Clifton Beal Bonner of Marshal, Texas. He is preceded in death by his first spouse Dolly Fay Coley Bonner, his grandson Jake Jones, older brother Radar Bonner, older sister Balma Hillard, and younger sister Sharon Bonner.