March 8, 1925 – November 7, 2009

Bonnea Mae Smith, 84 of Gering, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 at Heritage Estates.

Her funeral service was Nov. 13 at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel with Pastor Jim Green officiating. Interment followed at Fairview Cemetery. A memorial has been established to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com.

Bonnea was born on March 8, 1925 at Scottsbluff to Clyde Adams Sr. and Elizabeth (Sauvain) Adams and received her early education in the Scottsbluff schools graduating from Scottsbluff High School in 1943. She was a baton twirler for Scottsbluff High School and was always very proud of her part in providing school spirit.

She married Walter Smith on Oct. 29, 1943 at the Alliance AirBase in Alliance, Neb. They lived in Scottsbluff moving to Gering in 1954. She later moved to Jackson, Wyo. in 1991, returning to Scottsbluff in 1993.

She remained a “Bearcat” at heart, but became a “Bulldog” as well when her children attended Gering Schools. She was an avid Cornhusker Football fan. Her support and collection of Husker memorabilia sparred generations. She had met and befriended players and coaches thru the years most recently meeting, Tommie Frazier and other former players as they traveled thru the area. Her support of the Huskers through good and bad was almost legendary in this area. We will hear her chanting “Suhhh” from heaven through the rest of this season.

She was a stenographer for numerous businesses: Bert Howard, Mayor of Scottsbluff, Dept. of Agriculture, Townsend & Youeman, Dwight Elliott, Lockwood Corp, retiring in 1984.

She was a member of the Methodist Church, Honorary member of Women’s Circle of Methodist Church, Women’s Club of St. Johns Episcopal Church at Jackson, Wyo., DAV Auxiliary and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Survivors include her children: Vicki Jaye Johnson of Jackson, Wyo., Michael Lee Smith of Gering and Cindy Sue Winfield of Aurora, Colo.; seven grandchildren; nine great- grandchildren; and brother: Richard L. Adam of West Palm Beach, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers, two sisters and two half-sisters.

Bonnea Mae Smith