Bonnie George, 75, of Concordia, Kansas, died at Salina Regional Health Center surrounded by her loving family on August 9, 2023. The third of six, she was born in Valejo, California on November 29, 1947 to Henry Eugene and Alaine Maxine (Monroe) Floyd.
Her family returned to Kansas following Gene’s Navy service. She attended and graduated from Fort Scott High School where she was the High School Concert Mistress and 1st chair violin in the school symphony. She went on to attend Emporia State University on a music scholarship.
Bonnie worked a variety of secretarial jobs including the family business, she served as the Uniontown City Clerk, and at Wentz Eye Care in Concordia, Kansas. She also had an embroidery business called Bo Peep Creations. She assisted the Uniontown School District with the Irena Sendler Project, bringing to light the work of a Polish woman responsible for smuggling more than 2500 Jewish Children out of Warsaw during the Holocaust. This included traveling to Poland to meet Irena Sendler and hosting Irena’s daughter when she visited Kansas.
She was a member of the Athaneum Club, and attended the Baptist Church of Concordia, Kansas.
Bonnie could play any instrument with strings, along the piano and organ. She played in the Fort Scott and Pittsburg Symphonies and for weddings, funerals, and at nursing homes. She formed a band called the By George Band in which her children, nieces, and nephews played songs on a flatbed truck in local parades. She loved to crochet and did not enjoy cooking at all, though the things she made were enjoyed by her family.
Bonnie took her love of performing and making others smile and attended the Emmet Kelly Clown School. Her clown name was Sugar and she performed and made balloon animals at school carnivals and area businesses. She even took her grandkids along. She loved spending time with her grandkids and spoiling them with “love money.”
She was a spitfire, a good and loving mom, and did not know a stranger. She was everybody’s Grandma Bonnie and any time spent with Grandma Bonnie was a fun time.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Maxine; an infant sister, Janice, and sister Patricia Pool; and great-grandson Keith, Jr.
She is survived by her children, Jennifer (Steven) McKee of Frontenac, KS, Tamara George-Friend of Atoka, TN, Jeffrie (JoHanna) George of Garden City, KS, and Jonna Trost of Concordia, KS; 15 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; siblings, Earl (Donna) Floyd, Steve (Terri) Floyd, and Lynette (Mark) Jackson; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members.
Services will be held on Friday, August 18, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Baptist Church of Concordia. There will be a book signing on August 17, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Baptist Church and can be sent in care of Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, PO Box 606, Concordia, KS 66901. For online condolences please visit, www.chaputbuoy.com.
