Bonnie R. Graftenreed

Bonnie Ruth Graftenreed, 85, of rural Paragould, passed from this life on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at her residence.

Born in Mountain View, Bonnie grew up in Stone County and was the Salutatorian in the Class of 1957 at Pleasant Grove High School in Stone County. Following graduation, Bonnie moved to Jonesboro where she met Auburn Graftenreed. They were married August 2, 1957,

Bonnie worked for a couple of years at Dement Drugs and Sundries in downtown Jonesboro but mostly a homemaker who took good care of her family. She kept and nurtured her own children as well as tended to children in her home. She always kept busy canning, fixing meals, cleaning or working at the church she attended.  After Auburn retired, he and Bonnie became active with the Nailbenders for Jesus, an all-volunteer Christian church construction organization.

Bonnie was a member of her high school basketball team and always enjoyed playing the game and never grew tired of watching basketball in person or on television. She was a member of Rock Hill Missionary Baptist Church.  Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Auburn Graftenreed, son Greg Graftenreed,  parents Willie and Martha Burrow, grandson T.J. Hathcoat, 6 sisters and 1 brother.

Survivors include 2 daughters and their husbands: Janet and Tim Hathcoat and Christal and Skip Schalk, all of Paragould;

1 son and his wife, Mark and Diane Graftenreed of Paragould;

1 brother and wife, Lonnie and Susie Burrow of Jacksonville;

2 sisters and their husbands: Faye and Louie Graftenreed of Ironton, Missouri, and Donna and Bob Easley of Plano, Texas;

7 grandchildren and their spouses: Brandon Graftenreed, Laura Thompson, Cyndell Graftenreed, Jenise and Tim Brady, Wesley Hathcoat, Elizabeth and Jacob Fluke, and Aubrey Schalk; and

5 great grandchildren: Dominiqe Stamp, Tesa Stamp,  Tyler Brady, Trevor Brady, and Trey Brady.

Visitation will be 5:00-8:00 p.m. Sunday at Emerson Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday in Emerson Memorial Chapel with Rev. Parker Hughes and Michael "Skip" Schalk officiating. Burial will follow in Clark's Chapel Cemetery where there will be a butterfly release in honor of Bonnie's life.

Active pallbearers include Brandon Graftenreed, Dominiqe Stamp, Wesley Hathcoat, Jake Fluke, Hank Graftenreed and Tim Frego.  Honorary pallbearers include Tyler Brady, Trevor Brady, Trey Brady, Richard Sample, Jason Atkinson and Terry Davis.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to the Clark's Chapel Cemetery Association or Special Olympics of Arkansas.