Obituary of Helen Bonnell

Helen Verneice Bonnell, 87, the wife of the late Charles George Bonnell, passed from this life on Sunday, October 21, 2007, in Abilene, Texas at the Hendrick Hospice Center. Mrs. Bonnell was a lifetime resident of Doniphan, Missouri, and was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth McManus Baucom. She was born in the Wilson community on November 11, 1919. She and George Bonnell were married in Ripley County, September 21, 1939. Preceding her in death were her husband and her parents; one younger sister, Marge Pugh and brother-in-law Don Pugh; brother-in-law Amos (Speed) Johnston, aunts Lucille McManus Hunt, Ocye McManus Hughes, Izel McManus Dickson, Jenny McManus Rook, and one uncle, Chester "Check" McManus. Survivors include her son, Wilford and wife Margaret, Nixa, Missouri; three daughters Carolyn Hile and husband Pat, San Antonio, Texas, Barbara Miller and husband Tom and Kay Meredith and husband Floyd, all of Abilene, Texas. Mrs. Bonnell had the following seven grandchildren; Kim Herman, Nixa, Missouri; Kendra Propst, Memphis, Tennessee; Nathan Hile, San Antonio, Texas, Carmen Hile, Austin, Texas; Michelle Miller, Abilene, Texas, David Meredith, The Woodlands, Texas, and Kristen Perkins, Austin, Texas. She was great-grandma to these ten: Chase and Luke Herman, Emily, Kaylee, Ethan and Payton Hile; Austin and Katie Meredith; and Meredith and Molly Perkins. She is also survived by two sisters, Fay Nagel and husband, Ernie, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Joye Johnston of Lawton, Oklahoma. Many friends and relatives also remember her for her quiet but caring presence. She was a lifetime member of the Wilson Church of Christ and later the Doniphan Church of Christ. Most recently she was a member of the Woodlawn Church of Christ in Abilene. She was a homemaker whose sewing and pastry skills were legend. She retired from retail sales at Williams' Clothing in Doniphan, Missouri, in 1972. For many years, she and Mr. Bonnell enjoyed visiting the elderly and the sick. After his death in 1998, she eventually moved to Abilene, Texas, to be closer to her daughters. Visitation with the family will be at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 25, 2007, with a memorial service following at 2:00 p.m. Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home with Steve Sanders officiating. Interment will be at the Wilson Cemetery, Doniphan, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully suggests that memorials be made in her honor to the Paragould Children's Home, Paragould, Arkansas, to the Hendrick Hospice Center, Hendrick Hospital, 2000 Pine Street, Abilene, Texas 79604, or to Home Instead Senior Care, 240 South Mockingbird Lane, Abilene, Texas 79605.