Bonnie Ruth Benes

BONNIE RUTH BENES 1943-2023

Bonnie Ruth Benes passed away peacefully at the Southern Oaks Care Center in Pawnee, OK on August 9, 2023, having reached the age of 80 years and 5 months and 9 days. Her last residence before entering Southern Oaks was her family farm home in rural Morrison, Oklahoma.

Memorial Services will be at the Morrison Christian Church in Morrison, OK, on Sunday, August 13, 2923. After regular church service at 11am, dinner will be at noon with memorial service at 1:30pm officiated by Pastor Roy Fleshman and Dr. Clarance Benes. Internment will be at the Morrison Cemetery at a later date.

Bonnie was born February 12, 1943, at the home of her parents, Edward and Alice Benes. Bonnie had one sister, Barbara Adams, and four brothers, Edward Jr., Kelley, Charles and Clarance. She attended Morrison Public Schools until completing the 8th grade. She attended the Morrison Christian Church from her childhood until her retirement from her household duties as “Mama’s little helper.” She loved church and all the people there. It was Pastor Roy Fleshman that helped Bonnie prepared for her heavenly journey during her last weeks for which the family is eternally grateful.

A few months after the death of her mother, she moved to Southern Oaks Care Center in Pawnee, OK. In recent months she required Hospice Care. Both Southern Oaks and Karman Legacy Hospice both provided quality loving care during her time there.

Growing up she was always “mama’s little helper” and was the chief dishwasher and assisted her mother and sister Barbara in household chores for the family of eight. Inspired by her mother and aunts, she showed no hesitation in working hard for her family. She even worked outside in the gardens and even push mowed the grass despite her difficulty in walking. One of her favorite expressions was, “It’s Help Yourself Day!” when she wanted to take a break from serving everyone else. Finally, “Help Yourself Day” became every day when she “retired” from her chores in her mid-60’s. In her retirement she loved watching TV and doing word puzzles and keeping up with friends and family. She also had a large doll collection in her room which she enjoyed.

Always a child at heart, every generation in the family got to play “hide and seek” and card games with Bonnie, who was quite good at both Pitch and Canasta. She also loved bingo and seemed to have a lucky streak working for her in that game. One of her amazing talents was the ability to remember anyone’s birthday after being told once. She would ask all people she met, this way she could surprise them by knowing their birthday when they returned. She could fill a notebook with scores of extended family names with their birthdays all from memory. At Kelley Family reunions, always in charge of the registry, she made sure to get everyone’s name.

She is preceded in death by her parents and all her uncles and aunts. She is survived by her siblings, Kelley Family cousins, which include Jack and Jimmy Kelley, Eleanor Taulman, Joan Allen, Mary Downey, Dale Kelley, Virginia Mitchell, Jonelle Klieson, LuAnn Baker, Floyd Kelley, Ray Barnes, Steven Kelley, Boots Kelley and his sisters Carol Kelley Scott and Debbie Kelley Trout. Plus, Betty Nell (Kelley) Dennis, and her sisters Janice, Cindy, and Anitta. Also, she is survived by a host of nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great grand nieces and nephews.

Described as being kind, gentle and sweet, she was loved by practically all that ever met her. Bonnie was truly an angel that never hurt anyone in any way and served her family with a lifetime devotion despite her limitations in mind and body. She is now united in her heavenly home with all that preceded her at the head of the Lord’s Banquet table where it will never be a “help yourself day.”

Those wishing to donate in Bonnie’s memory can send it to the Morrison Christian Church, 200 East A Street, Morrison, OK 73061. Friends and family may also leave a message on Poteet Funeral Home web page https://poteetfuneral.com/obituaries