Bonnie Jean (Wardle) Lee

02-05-33 - 8-01-20

Bonnie Jean Wardle Lee was the only child born in Lexington, Kentucky to Daisy Tomlinson and Raymond Preston Wardle as Daisy was taken by tuberculosis at age 29. Bonnie was only 5 years old and had been found to have TB in her lower left leg. Available treatment at that time was sought at the Oleika Shriner's Hospital in Lexington. This resulted in years of orthopedic surgeries, casts and crutches.

After a year of uncertainty following her mother's passing Bonnie found her new home in the capable hands of Ms. Katye Lee, Matron at the Lexington Orphan's Home also known as Parker Place at 511 W. Short Street in Lexington. She shared this home with 27 other children during the Great Depression and WW II. She became baptized at the First Baptist Church on Main Street in Lexington. Bonnie always marveled at growing up in Mary Todd Lincoln's grandmothers' home where Abraham Lincoln had actually spent time. Later in life, she became a relief house parent and Board Member of the Lexington's Orphan Society until the orphanage closed in 1978.

Bonnie graduated from the original Henry Clay High School and had been accepted into a 3-year RN program at a private Catholic Nursing School. Despite the odds posed by her orthopedic surgeries to handle the physical demands of nursing, Bonnie excelled. She was fully committed to this vocation and her knowledge and excellence as a nurse were an integral part of who she was.

As a mother, Bonnie taught her family the importance of solid health practices. As a PTA member at Mary Todd Elementary she volunteered to participate each year in the vision, hearing and dental screenings for all students. Bonnie's daughters were the only children on Freeman Drive to have the neighborhood children ask for their mother to come out and play!

She continued this commitment to health matters in her early 40's by returning to school at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) earning an official collegiate nursing degree and a Master's Degree with honors in Health Education. She continued working in her nursing career throughout achieving these lifelong goals of earning college degrees. Bonnie was actively taking steps to work abroad in the Peace Corps when she was needed by family and refocused her energy into that part of her life.

Bonnie Jean Wardle and Raymond Fulton Lee, Jr. met at a dance sponsored by Bonnie's nursing sorority where she was the hostess. The green-eyed blond bombshell caught the eye of the handsome Navy man and engineer. Their marriage union brought forth two lively daughters.

Bonnie is survived by her daughters Katye Lee (Micheal) Carr (Oklahoma) and Laurie Lee(Glenn) Fenley (Texas), four grandchildren, Jason Roberts (Texas), Lucas Carr (Oklahoma), Joshua Steelman (Texas) and Sarah Carr (Oklahoma) and four great grandchildren, Arwen Valenzuela, Mia Valenzuela, Jarrick Buck Roberts (Texas) and Dylan Carr (Oklahoma). Bonnie's life ended with Covid pneumonia.