Bonnie Mae Sorrell's Obituary
Bonnie Mae (Cole) Sorrell, Grandma
93 years old
Died Friday, March 21, 0917AM
Wesley Village, Wilmore, Kentucky
Bonnie was born in Keota, Oklahoma on Wednesday, December 03, 1931 as the 2nd daughter to the growing family of Gladys and Fred Cole which soon included Alma, Carson, Sherman, Bonnie, Esther, Jackie, Illaree, George and Troy. She was the widow of Meredith (Bud) Sorrell who passed on July 06, 2019. Bonnie was survived by two brothers, George (Ruth) and Troy (Jan), two sisters, Jackie and Esther, two children, Duane and Vince (Amanda), and three grandchildren, Zoe (Rich), Jack and Maggie.
After high school, she enrolled in Draughon Business College in Little Rock, AR and worked as the secretary to the VP of Tucker Duck and Rubber Company (which she loved to say out loud). She graduated from Ft. Smith Sparks Nursing School as a Registered Nurse and was proud of a long career as a medical and OR nurse having achieved recognition as a highly skilled, dedicated, and trusted care provider. After marriage, she worked as a pediatric nurse, office administrator, clerical staff and business manager in Bud’s private practice.
Bonnie and Bud met at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, got married in Van Buren, Arkansas, lived in Florida prior to spending time overseas in Okinawa during Bud’s military commitment. They then moved to Ohio starting in Akron (where Duane was born), Warren (where Vince was born), and Cortland before returning to Oklahoma to be closer to family. At the sunset of their life’s Journey, they moved to Kentucky, to once again, be closer to family.
Bonnie love playing competitive bridge and was very good at it. She enjoyed reading and historical fiction became one of her prime genres. She was able to hook rugs as gifts for family despite arthritis that limited the necessary dedicated hours for that effort. Until the age of 90, she would regularly ride her exercise bike daily. In Ohio, her joy was working outside, gardening and caring for a very large bed of roses. Throughout life, she enjoyed global travel and visited China, Turkey, Canary Islands, Africa, Alaska, Mexico, and more. Despite suffering from vertigo, she also enjoyed cruising (Mexico, Caribbean, Europe).
Bonnie loved to cook and organized many social gatherings to demonstrate her hostess and gourmet skills. This allowed her to show off her culinary interests, since Bud had a simple palate that preferred basic eggs and sausage. She loved arts and crafts and often created hand-made
gifts (gingerbread ornaments) and other Knick knacks. She was active in many charities including Festival of Trees which complemented her skills. She was very active in the Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school for many years. She volunteered for the American Heart and Cancer Associations. She served in many leadership roles including the President of the Trumbull County Medical Auxiliary.
A celebration of life for Ms. Bonnie will be held on Tuesday April 15, 2025, at 10 AM at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel in Broken Arrow Oklahoma 6500 S. 129th E. Ave Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Society of Echocardiography (asefoundation.org/donate) or Shatterproof (Shatterproof.org) organizations are requested. Thank you to the many dedicated healthcare providers who guided her through her final journey. Thank you to the many clergy who helped her along the way. Thank you to her friends and family who called, texted, and visited her often. She cherished each and every conversation and they always brightened her day. Thank you to the staff of Wesley Village who helped keep her warm, well-fed, and happy in her final days.
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