Bonnie May Lakey, 90

Funeral services for Bonnie May Lakey, 90, of Ava, were held Dec. 29, 2023, at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Ava with burial following in the Denlow Cemetery. 

She died Dec. 26, 2023, at Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston with her family by her side.

Bonnie was born Feb. 20, 1933, in Brixey, to Austus and Florence (Hale) Byerlee. She grew up in Ozark County and went to school at Upper Brixey. She later attended Gainesville High School, graduating in 1949 as salutatorian of her class.

She moved to Detroit, Michigan, with her sister and worked for a few years, but she got sick and returned to Ozark County. 

Then she met the love of her life, Noble Lakey. They were married on Aug. 12, 1956, at her parents’ home in Ozark County. Together were blessed with fours sons: Bill, Gary, Kevin and Stanley. 

Bonnie was a Christian and attended the Ava Church of Christ.

She worked with Noble on the farm, and she had also worked as a nurses' aid at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield for a few years. She enjoyed sewing, sightseeing and traveling with Noble and being with her family.

Bonnie is survived by her son Stanley Lakey; sister and her husband Shirley and Marvin Bell; six grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Noble in 2012; three sons: Bill, Gary, and Kevin Lakey; a grandson, Andrew Lakey; one sister Daisey Beasley; and two brothers Don Byerlee and Lonnie Byerlee.

Arrangements under the direction of Clinkinbeard Funeral Home, Ava.