Bonnie Lou Hamby

Bonnie enjoyed growing up on the farm and loved to ride her horses, Old Ribbon and Sally. She also excelled at athletics, playing under the great coach Thednal Hill at Viola High School. Coach Hill was the winningest coach ever in U.S. women's high school basketball. Bonnie was a Varsity member of the Viola High School Girls Basketball Team for all four years of high school. The Viola High School team won the Arkansas District 2N State Championship for 1959, 1960, and 1961, with an undefeated record of 34-0 during 1959 and 32-0 during 1961. As part of the Viola team, Bonnie went to the Arkansas State Women's Basketball Championship game three of the four years she was in high school and was also an All-State player helping the team win two state championships, one in her sophomore year and one in her senior year in 1961.

After graduating from high school, Bonnie moved to the Kansas City area to work. While working at Sears in 1962, she met her future husband, Marion Hamby. They were married in Independence, Missouri, on December 20, 1962.

Bonnie moved to Independence after her marriage and, after that, remained a lifelong resident of Independence. Two years after Bonnie's and Marion's marriage, they had a son, Bruce, and six years later a daughter, Carol, to whom Bonnie was the world's best mom.

Bonnie worked at Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. and later for 30 years at Kansas City Power and Light Co. At KCP&L, she worked in the Treasury Department and, later, in the Real Estate Department as a Right-of-Way Agent.

Bonnie enjoyed reading her Bible, sewing and gardening, raising both flowers and some vegetables in her garden. In addition, she was a fantastic cook and made the best chili ever.

Bonnie was called home on June 23, 2021. Her loving and devoted husband was by her side as she departed for heaven to enter into her eternal reward and rest and to be with those loved ones who went before her.

Bonnie was a teenager when she was baptized and was a member of the Church of Christ. She attended the Blue River Church of Christ in her last years. Bonnie was a lifelong faithful Christian who made it a point to impart her faith to her children from birth, and she was blessed with six grandchildren, all of whom she cherished. She also led her husband, Marion, to Christ and to him being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in the Church of Christ. She was a faithful, devoted, godly wife and mother. Her husband, Marion, said that she was the best thing that ever happened to him. She was always an encouragement to him in everything that he did.

Bonnie's legacy of faithfulness to her Lord Jesus Christ and exemplary life will forever be remembered by all that knew her. Her Christian faith lives on in her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of thy Lord!