Bonnie Lea West

Bonnie Lea West Bonnie Lea West was born on June 14, 1930, at the home of Flavia and Juanita Blake, at 909 Osage, Independence, Missouri. Bonnie was the youngest of three sisters, Dorothy, still alive at 97 years old, and Wanda, previously deceased. Bonnie passed away on January 25, 2021, in Blue Springs, Missouri, at St Mary’s Hospital, as a result of arterial occlusion. Bonnie had been living at St. Mary’s Village in Blue Springs. Bonnie graduated from William Chrisman High School in Independence, Missouri, in 1948. Bonnie was a good student and was known for being an accomplished flutist in the William Chrisman band. Bonnie married her high school sweetheart Elmo (Bud) James West Jr. in 1949. Bonnie held several jobs after graduating from high school, and before having children, including working for Sears. Bonnie developed excellent clerical skills in her early working years, which served her well when she returned to the work force in the mid 1970’s. Bonnie was an excellent mother and care giver. Bonnie and Bud had five children, Jim, Joan, Diane, Danny and David over a span of 21 years. Bonnie spent her entire life in the Kansas City area residing in Independence, Harrisonville, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Oak Grove and Blue Springs. All of her children graduated from Lee’s Summit High School where she was an avid supporter of the sports teams and other activities that her children participated in. Bonnie was best known as an excellent cook and for her great sense of humor through good times and bad. She and her sister Wanda would laugh themselves to tears while trying on hats and making faces at each other in department stores. Bonnie had many humorous expressions that she likely got from her father, including such gems as: That singer sounds like a dying calf in a hailstorm”, or “That outfit is as ugly as a mud fence”. One of Bonnie’s talents that everyone in the extended family yearned to have at each gathering or holiday event were her chocolate cake, her pecan cinnamon rolls and her dinner rolls. Bonnie was also known for cooking huge batches of burritos and tacos for her children and their friends. In addition to providing special care and instilling a strong work ethic and sense of honesty in her children by the example she set, Bonnie was also a major care provider to many others when the need arose. When Bonnie’s sister Wanda was very ill, Bonnie took her in and cared for her. When Bonnie’s husband Bud became ill and unable to work, Bonnie took care of him and also went back to work after being a homemaker and out of the work force for over 25 years, in order to support the family. Her husband Bud passed away in 1990. Bonnie even took in her father in law, Elmo Sr., one winter in his last years when he was unable to live alone. Bonnie was truly a kind gentle loving soul, highly regarded by all. It would be very difficult to find someone who would disagree with that opinion of her. Besides her family, Bonnie’s great passions were her pets, country music and spicy food. Cats were her favorite animals, with her beloved Sammy living for 20 years. Her favorite musicians were George Jones and Don Gibson. Bonnie, her mother Juanita, and her sister Wanda would often head to downtown Kansas City to Las Palmas Restaurant in the 1950s for Mexican food, before it became a popular food type and was hard to find. Bonnie was a jalapeno fanatic. Bonnie loved her family birthday picnics in June, which would be regularly attended by 30 to 35 relatives, and her outings with her children and grandchildren, especially her grandson Bill, who diligently took Bonnie on regular outings and brought Bonnie food during her later years, as her health declined. Bonnie is survived by one sister, five children, fourteen grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren. Graveside services will be held at Lee’s Summit Cemetery at a later date. Bonnie will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Bonnie Lea West

June 14, 1930 - January 25, 2021