Bonita Kay (Bailey) Webster Obituary

Bonita "Bonnie" Kay Webster was a loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother, and beloved friend. She lived her life with vigor and joy, such that others wanted to be around her. Her words and actions were guided by her trust in God and her desire to live like the one she followed, Jesus Christ. Bonnie's life was full of faith, hope and love.

Bonnie was born just after the United States was drawn into World War II. Families had come through the challenges of economic depression with a strong work ethic, and even as war began, Americans pulled together to make life as good as they could for their children. One such family was James and Vernadine (Egolf) Bailey of Muskegon, Michigan. He owned a chicken processing business, Bailey Poultry Company, where Vernadine also worked. In addition, James sold real estate and volunteered as a fire fighter. Their lives became all the more full when their dear daughter Bonita was born on December 19, 1941. Bonita was already nine years old by the time her sister Lindra was born in 1950. Bonnie enjoyed a childhood rich with the closeness of family and the fun of living, working, and playing on the family property on Holton Road. There Bonnie rode her horse Trigger, helped out with the family business, and went on fire runs with her dad. Her enthusiasm for life extended to her schooling, where Bonnie's high school classmates voted her most athletic and elected her class vice president. Yet, the year leading up to her graduation from Reeths Puffer High School turned out to be the most eventful.

During her senior year, Bonnie met Clarence "Bunk" Webster at McDonald's restaurant. Bunk, a couple years older than she, was attending Muskegon Community College and working part time for the City of Roosevelt Park. Bunk saw Bonnie for her natural beauty from the moment he laid eyes on her. She was just natural and was beautiful without a bit of makeup. The two started dating and soon fell in love. They were together at her senior prom and, shortly after, they were together for life. Bonnie and Bunk were married on January 12, 1961. Later that year, their daughter Kim was born and Bonnie settled into a life she loved-being a mom.

The young family moved into an upstairs apartment on 6th Street in Muskegon Heights and Bunk got a job at the paper mill. In 1962, they built a house on Poulson Road where they welcomed their sons Jim and Jeff, born in 1964 and 1966, respectively. In the 1970's they built a new house on Giles Road. When the kids were growing up, Bonnie worked parttime at Harold's grocery and at Meijer, but her fulltime attention was spent on her kids. She was very involved in their lives at home and school. She guided their spiritual lives by taking them to Sunday School at Dalton Baptist Church, where the family were members. She encouraged their academic lives by volunteering in their school, often chaperoning class trips. Bonnie even took her kids on their own "class trips" in springtime. When the weather first turned nice, she would take them for a hike in the woods or across the sand dunes by Lake Michigan. Interestingly, however justified she was in leading this home-schooling nature class, Bonnie never let on to Bunk that the kids had skipped school.

Family fun and nature also combined on summer camping trips. The Webster family was always eager for vacations, even if they were spur of the moment. There were mornings when Bunk called Bonnie from work to tell her, "Get packed-we're leaving when I get home." Bonnie, who the kids called "master packer", never minded jumping into action at short notice because it meant the family would be together.

After the children were grown and out of the house with families of their own, Bonnie started to have health problems with her lungs. Doctors had difficulty diagnosing exactly what was wrong, but they eventually figured out that Bonnie had a form of cystic fibrosis. The disease slowly started taking over her lungs, and she needed oxygen to keep going. But her illness never kept Bonnie down. She and Bunk still traveled to see their children and grandchildren. When the grandkids came to their home, Bonnie often took them horseback riding, for walks by the river or a drive to get ice cream. They went frog hunting, climbed trees, or baked cookies. She even went tubing with them on the Muskegon River just last summer. Bonnie spent a great deal of "priceless" time with her loved ones.

Bonnie also spent deep time with her God. She read the Bible and Christian books about living out her faith. Bonnie did just that. She tried to emulate God's love in all she did and toward everyone she met. People mattered to God so they mattered to Bonnie. She treated everyone-whether family members or people she met in the store-with care and consideration. She made them feel special. The way she lived her life, Bonnie passed on her faith to others. She had an amazing gift to inspire and encourage people. Someone once called her "an angel on earth," perhaps because Bonnie had a way of talking to people and praying with them to help them with their problems. Even pastors called to tell her their concerns and to pray with Bonnie.

Bonnie's abiding faith was her joy and comfort, especially in difficult times. With declining health, she underwent a double lung transplant in 1997 at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Although most people thought she would never survive, Bonnie did. Her faith helped her through, because she knew the truth of words she spoke, "God is in control." So, several months after surgery, Bonnie was at the Waterpark sliding down the waterslide with her grandchildren. Truth be told, Bonnie was a kid at heart.

Besides spending time with family, Bonnie and Bunk also started to winter in Florida. They made great friends and Bonnie golfed with a fun group of women. Because of her many friendships, Bonnie always had loved ones around her in good times and in bad. In the spring of 2006, Bonnie was diagnosed with cancer, and she fought it with chemotherapy and the help of others. Friends were always there for her, even when she didn't know it. At times when she and Bunk went for her treatments, the neighbors snuck over and cleaned their house and did the laundry. Bonnie's own care, concern and compassion rubbed off on everyone she met.

A favorite phrase of Bonnie's captures her spirit and determination: "Can't never did anything." Though it might have taken years for her children to understand just what she meant, they now live with Bonnie's legacy of strength, vitality and joy.

Mrs. Bonita "Bonnie" K. Webster, age 65, died Sunday, April 22, 2007 in Port Charlotte, Florida. She is survived by her husband, Clarence; 2 sons, Jim (Renee) Webster of Muskegon, Jeff (Pati) Webster of Muskegon; daughter, Kim (Kevin) Bowers of Grandville; 6 grandchildren, Justin Bowers, Kara Bowers, Travis, Madison, Cassie and Jack Webster; sister, Lindra (Gary) Santo of North Muskegon. A service to celebrate Bonnie's life will be held on Sunday, April 29, 2007, 3:00 PM at Crosswinds Fellowship with Rev. William Filmore officiating. Interment at East Dalton Oakhill Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet Bonnie's family on Saturday, 1-3 PM at Clock Funeral Home and Sunday, 1 hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory for the family to cherish.