Bonnie Blanton

Bonnie Jean Scott Blanton, 81, Lawrence, Kansas, passed away Friday, September 22, 2023. Bonnie was born at home on December 10, 1941, to Donald Willard Scott and Virginia Turner Scott in Charlestown, Indiana. The second of ten children, Bonnie was an excellent student, placing third in her class at Munford High School, Class of 1959, in Munford, Tennessee. She published her first poem “When I was a Child” her senior year. Bonnie met her future husband, James Donald Blanton, while attending Wood Junior College in Mathiston, Mississippi, before studying elementary education at Memphis State University (as it was). Bonnie and Don married on June 16, 1963. Bonnie was proud mother to Greg (Michaela Fischer) of Bamberg, Germany, Virginia (Nathan Oyler) of Kansas City, Missouri, and Monica (Marcus Birzer) of Lawrence, Kansas; grandmother to Jamie (Florian Faltus) and Gary (Manuela Bronner) of Germany, Skyler Smith of Topeka, Kansas, and Scout Blanton Oyler of Kansas City, Missouri; great-grandmother to Leia, Mickayla, Connor, Caylan, and Cerys of Germany; and grandmother to her foster grandson, Kyle Paul (Alissa) of Shawnee, Kansas. After her children were school-aged, Bonnie attended summer school at Fort Hays State University to finish her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a focus on Special Education. Graduating in 1982, Bonnie taught special education in grades 6-12 over the next 24 years, challenging and championing her “kids” and rewarding them with her chocolate chip cookies. She retired from teaching in 2006 after eleven years at Paola Middle School. A devoted mother and wife who was the heart of her family, Bonnie faced four brain surgeries and radiation over the last twenty years. Her sense of humor never waned, and when asked how she was feeling, would smile and say, “With my fingers.” Bonnie died at home, with her husband of sixty years at her side and her daughters singing to her. Determined that she could once again help others, Bonnie donated her body to the University of Kansas Medical Center to support meningioma research. Her family thanks the doctors at Neurosurgery at KU Med, especially Dr. Roukoz Chamoun, as well as the amazing nursing and clinical staff who supported her multiple recoveries. In addition, the family expresses its gratitude to Angelina Dean, Farrah Washington, and Alicia Puterbaugh, who helped keep Bonnie at home the past several years, as well as to the staff of Midland Care who offered hospice support in her final days. Bonnie’s Celebration of Life will be 1 p.m. October 15, Sunday, at Fireflies Farm, Paola KS. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Education Endowment Fund, Paola School District 368, 1115 E 303rd St, Paola KS 66071, in honor of Bonnie Jean Scott Blanton to support future Panther educators. Condolences may be sent online to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com.

Bonnie Blanton

December 10, 1941 - September 22, 2023