Bonnie Kay Emerick, eldest daughter of Roy and Alfreda (Owens) Emerick, was born March 17, 1953, in Springfield, Missouri, and unexpectedly departed this life September 3, 2022, at her home in Mtn. Grove, Missouri. She was 69 years, 5 months, and 17 days of age.
She grew up in the Seymour and Mansfield areas with her parents, sisters, and large extended family, which included many cousins she felt were more like siblings. She attended Seymour school. She worked at the Tobin-Hamilton Shoe Factory, the nursing home, and as a home health aide for Integrity before she retired. She then helped her sisters care for their aging parents, whom she loved dearly.
Most of her adult years she enjoyed a simple life on the family farm where friends and family came to visit. She didn’t know a stranger and showed love and hospitality to so many, and tried to help in any way she could. She had an ornery and adventurous streak that many knew, and would tease people with her prosthetic leg, which startled the grandchildren many times.
On September 9, 2001, Bonnie believed on Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour, and was baptized June 28, 2003. She attended several churches over the years, most recently at Renovation.
Bonnie battled and overcame various health obstacles throughout her life. She held strongly to Romans 8:28 and placed her faith in God and His healing. Many were able to witness the personal miracles in her life. She leaned on Jesus for strength and strived to have an optimistic outlook in all circumstances.
Bonnie treasured her family and embraced every moment with them. She loved her daughters, and especially cherished her role as grandma. As imperfect as her family might be, she encouraged them, pointed them to Christ, prayed for the best, was proud of everyone, and loved them all to the moon and back.
She enjoyed reading her Bible, drinking diet Mtn. Dew, watching ‘soda pops’, being in nature, spending time at the lake – she couldn’t swim, but liked being on the water, camping, traveling to new places, listening to music, holiday dinners, going to local sale barns, festivals and amusement parks with family. She liked to play board games, especially Risk.
Bonnie’s hobbies included painting, crafting, and word searches. She also liked collecting antiques, garden figurines, rocks, home interior, and knick knacks.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Shalawn Lawrence; and sister, Beverly Cornelison.
She is survived by her daughter, Lori Cross and husband, Roger; grandchildren, Jacqueline Lawson (Luke), Chauncie Coday (Nathan), Chance Emerick, Candace Dunbar, Chelsea Bohannon (Nathen), Drew Dunbar, and Aaron Lawrence; great-grandchildren, Brooklynn, Maci, Aiden, Addalie, Ellinore, and Callen, with another on the way; sisters, Betty and Barbara Emerick; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and great-great-nephews; her Chihuahua, Hannah; and a host of cousins, aunts, uncles, and many friends who will miss her greatly.
Bonnie was a fun and loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and a caring friend. She leaves behind a lifetime of memories and happy moments with many loved ones. We celebrate her life and will cherish the wonderful memories we have with her.
Please join us to celebrate Bonnie’s life on Friday, September 16, 2022, at 11:00 am at Renovation Church in Mansfield, MO.
