Bonnie Oleta Welch's Obituary
Bonnie Oleta Welch, 91 of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma passed from this life to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, March 30, 2020 at Clarehouse in Tulsa with family by her side. She was born October 16, 1928 in Peggs, Oklahoma to her parents, Jack Clemons Cherry and Stella Cordella Owens Cherry. She married the love of her life, Tom J. Welch on December 20, 1945 and they shared over 53 wonderful years together before his passing on July 16, 1999.
Bonnie has been an Awesome Mom and Grandma to her children and her grandchildren. She has been a Mentor, Friend and Prayer Warrior to so many throughout her Life. There has been nothing more important to her than God and Family. As one of 10 children, she lived through the depression, as a child worked in the fields in Arizona with her family, as a teenager operated an overhead crane at Bethlehem Steel in California, And she was a waitress in San Francisco and also here in Broken Arrow. She played the piano by ear although she could read music well. Music was very important to her and she made sure all of her children were involved in band at school. In addition, Donna took Piano lessons, Ronnie and Chuck played the guitar, Kathy took Piano lessons and enjoyed singing in church.
Bonnie was an excellent seamstress and made a lot of the family’s clothing. She also made wedding dresses and formal wear for special occasions.
Bonnie loved to laugh and had an awesome sense of humor. She played pranks on her siblings and sometimes got them in trouble but laughed the whole way through. She enjoyed acting crazy with her grandkids and making life fun for all. She loved to work crossword puzzles because she enjoyed learning new words and passing them on to her children. Upwords was one of her favorite word games as an adult.
Bonnie went through the 8th Grade in school even though the family traveled around to find work. She obtained her GED when she was in her 40’s, something she was really proud of. She was a stay at home Mom most of her children’s lives but she also cleaned houses from time to time because she could take her younger children with her. Later in life she went to work for Edward and Nancy Taylor in their home for over 20 years. Mom loved her brothers and sisters and maintained a relationship with them all of their lives which continues today after being reunited in Heaven.
Bonnie is survived by her four children, Donna G. Roy of Tishomingo, Oklahoma, Ronald W. Welch of Coweta, Oklahoma, Charles T. Welch of Beggs, Oklahoma and Kathy J. Welch of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren, Janet Latendresse, Kaci Hubbell, Ron Welch, Jr., Randy Roy, Rick Welch, Terry Welch, Rusty Welch and Kris Roy; fifteen great-grandchildren; ten great-great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom J. Welch; her parents, Jack and Stella Cherry; daughter-in-law, Mary A. Welch; grandson, Tommy Roy; great-grandson, Anthony Welch; and her nine siblings, Louise Wakefield, John Cherry, Adrian Cherry, Modine Ezell, Wallace Cherry, Quanah Carter, Harold Cherry, Betty Reynolds and Shirley Peevyhouse.
Viewing will be held from 3-6 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2020 at Floral Haven Funeral Home (Due to restrictions from COVID-19, we can only allow 10 people in the viewing room at a time). Burial will be private because attendance is limited at this time. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be scheduled at a later date.
If you wish to send flowers, please wait until the Celebration of Life service is scheduled and send at that time.
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