Bonita Azzelle “Bonnie” Smith, 74, of Mountain Grove, passed away Feb. 11, 2015, following a long battle with COPD.
She was born June 9, 1940, in Blytheville, Ark., daughter of William L. Sr. and Azzelle McGee.
She and her husband, Bob, moved to Mountain Grove in the summer of 1982 and set deep roots into the community. They owned and operated a small chain of convenience stores named Country Express. She was bookkeeper and a helpmate for 35 years.
She was a member of the Wright County Board for the Developmentally Disabled for more than 20 years. During her time serving, the board approved funding for the county’s disabled children and adults from activities as small as a life skills class at Mountain Grove High School to helping build the Emma Barber Group home, where her daughter, Elaine, currently resides.
Storytelling, coffee drinking on the deck and spending time in the kitchen laughing with her family were some of her very favorite activities. She loved animals and sharing meals with family and friends.
Survivors include her husband, Robert “Bob” Smith; two sons, Vincent Via, Martin Via; two daughters, Elaine Smith and Tanya Wert; six grandchildren; two great-grandsons; three siblings, Patricia Stow, Katy Merriman and Sam Lester; and a multitude of nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents and four siblings, Jim Lester, Frances Ashby, William “Dubbie” Lester and T-Neil Samac.
Services were Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Living Stones Assembly of God Church in Mountain Grove with C.L. Stage officiating. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery in Mountain Grove under the direction of Elliott-Gentry-Carder Funeral Home of Cabool.
Online condolences may be made at www.egcfuneralhome.com.
