Bonnie Lea Wyly, age 87, passed peacefully into the hands of her Lord Jesus on October 8, 2022, at Beautiful Savior Home in Belton. Born on February 8, 1935 in Champaign, Ill., she was the daughter of John Willis Williams and Effie Beatrice Purcel.
She worked as a mother to her four children and two foster children before starting a career as a commercial bus driver. She drove private charter buses to 48 states in the US for 17 years. After driving over 1 million miles, she tired of traveling and Bonnie went to work for Wal-Mart as a master gardener for over 10 years.
She was a faithful member of South Haven Baptist Church in Belton where she played the piano and organ and attended Young at Heart. In fact Bonnie began playing the piano at the age of five when her mother arranged for her to take lessons. From her teen years, Bonnie served the Lord with her musical talents by playing both the piano and organ in many churches, singing in the choirs and ladies’ trios, and accompanying a traveling music evangelist.
She is survived by her husband William Wyly; her daughter Mary (Jim) Odom of Belton, Cathryn (Mike) Maddy of Derby, Kan., and Paul Vendrick of Las Vegas, Nev.
She is preceded in death by her five brothers and three sisters; her son Mark Alan Vendrick, her second husband John Hanchett, and her parents.
The memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, at 11 a.m. at South Haven Baptist Church, 16800 Bel-Ray Blvd, Belton, with interment at the Higginsville Veterans Cemetery. The visitation will be held at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Croix Hospice.