Osa Bonita (Storey) Rosey was born on February 26, 1936 in Emporia, Kansas. She was the only child born to Bill "Buster" and Willa “Ruth” Storey. Ruth died shortly after childbirth and Bonita was raised by Buster and his second wife, Eula Storey in Emporia, Kansas and briefly in California. Bonita went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 due to natural causes.
Bonita was preceded in death by her parents, ex-husband Freddie Rosey, daughter-in-law Ann Rosey and grandson Kyle Johnson.
Bonita was married to Freddie Rosey from May, 1956 until their divorce in April, 1981 just a month shy of 25 years. Six children were born of this union: Carl, Bonita "Bono," Calvin, Martin, Everett and Janice. Bonita did not remarry but devoted the remainder of her life to them, and to serving others through her church family and connections in the community.
Bonita graduated from Roosevelt High School in May, 1953 and went on to attend three years at Emporia State University where she studied Accounting. She later attended Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, MO.
While Bonita was primarily a full time mother and farmer’s wife when her children were young, she fondly reminisced about her first job as a teen working at Red X, a soda fountain shop, and later working in a clothing factory. However, the majority of her career was spent as an accountant and tax preparer. Throughout her life, Bonita worked for several employers including Heart of America Family Services, where she worked for fifteen years. In addition, she volunteered for many years at Grace Christian Fellowship Church.
Bonita was actively involved in the Young at Heart Group at her church and with the Roeland Park and Mission Community Centers where she participated in activities several times a week prior to Covid restrictions. In addition, she participated in the Writing for Life program and enjoyed creative writing. Bonita was also an avid reader and regularly made “gift packages” full of article clippings for everyone she loved so they would know she was thinking of them. She enjoyed spending time with her family playing cards or board games, especially “Upwords.” But Bonita was comfortable spending time alone, working crossword puzzles or watching westerns, the oldies or Christian television. Bonita also enjoyed putting her bookkeeping skills to use and kept meticulous spreadsheets. She was humble, unassuming, and a sweet, kind lady who will be fondly remembered by all her life touched.
The most important thing to Bonita was her relationship with the Lord. She spent much time studying scripture and was a fierce prayer warrior. She also showed her faith through generosity, donating to multiple organizations and opening her home to people in need, including her foster daughter Kim Dunn. All who knew her saw a kind soul who lived a rich life with an inspiring internal peace which reflected her strong faith in the Lord, and His promise of eternal life. It is fitting that Bonita's homecoming was on 3/16 as one of her favorite scriptures was John 3:16,"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." There is no question she is fully enjoying eternal life in heaven and desires all to one day join her there.
Bonita leaves behind a legacy in her children: Carl (& Judy) Rosey, Bonita (& David) Colvin, Calvin (& Patti) Rosey, Martin Rosey, Everett (& Christine) Rosey and Janice (& Kevin) Byrd; 21 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and three more great-grandchildren expected to join the family in the near future.
