Bonnie Hays

LaVonne “Bonnie” (Temple) Hays

LaVonne “Bonnie” (Temple) Hays, 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at home on August 2, 2016.

Bonnie was born to Edward Temple and Alma Madonna (Slagle) Temple on Oct. 24, 1923, south of Stanberry, MO on the family farm. She was the youngest of their four children.

She graduated from Stanberry High School in 1941 and moved to St. Joseph, MO where she took classes at Platt Business College. She was a bookkeeper at Glazier’s Meat Packing Co. She rented a room for her living accommodations. Her landlady suggested her boarders write letters to some military friends serving in World War II. Those letters forever changed Bonnie’s life.

One of those servicemen was William Andy Hays, the future love of her life. They corresponded throughout the war and met on his furloughs before being married on August 12, 1946 in St. Joseph which launched a 63-year romance.

They started their family in St. Joseph, having two sons before Andy’s work moved them to Kansas City, MO and ultimately to Englewood, CO in 1957. It was here she and Andy met their lifelong friends and neighbors, Ralph and Dorothy Wall and their five wonderful children.

Bonnie was a homemaker and kept busy with the boys’ activities and enjoyed sewing and cooking as she had been taught on the farm. She and Andy loved square and ballroom dancing and playing cards. Bonnie was an active, longtime parishioner of St. Louis Catholic Church.

In 1968, Bonnie decided she wanted something to get her out of the house since her sons were about to leave home for college. She became an Avon sales representative, which she immediately liked and was quite successful. She thoroughly enjoyed the customers she met and lifelong friendships she made while earning sales recognition along the way. She gained President’s Club and Honor Society status most of the 47 years she sold Avon. She was recognized with the Spirit of Avon award in 1999. She reluctantly retired this spring due to health issues.

Her real passion was her family. She worked hard to keep in touch with family left behind in Missouri. Nothing was more important than her family and extended family. Her five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren were the highlight of any day!

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings and husband.

Bonnie is survived by her sons, Michael (Mary), Littleton and Rick (Jane), Helena, MT; her grandchildren, Timothy (Jessica), Carlsbad, CA; Randy (Kristin), Durango, CO; Matthew, Colorado Springs; Benjamin (Shuyi), Taipei, Taiwan; Lara (Brandon) Chavez, Denver; her great grandchildren, her sister-in-law, Mary Carolyn Hays, St. Joseph, as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

The family is forever grateful to Bonnie’s caregiving angels -- Gertrude, Jodi and Karen and the exceptional people at Divine Mercy Hospice -- Brenda, Dani and Dr. Rastrelli for their wonderful support of Bonnie.

A recitation of the Rosary will be Sunday, August 7, at 4 p.m., at Bullock Mortuary, 1375 E. Hampden, Englewood, a Mass of Christian burial will be Monday, August 8, at 2 p.m., at St. Louis Catholic Church, 3310 S. Sherman, Englewood.  A reception will follow in the St. Louis School cafeteria.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Divine Mercy Supportive and Hospice Care, 303 S. Broadway, Suite 220, Denver, 80209 or St. Louis Catholic Church.

Family and friends are encouraged to share stories and photographs of Bonnie here on her website (click appropriate tab on the left side of this page).