Bonnie Mae Keeling Stubbs, 95, of Benton, passed away Wednesday March 12th, 2025. She was born March 13, 1929, in Barney, Arkansas, a small farming community in Faulkner County, to Richard Davis Keeling and Eula Mae (Arnold) Keeling. Her early life was spent tending the family farm with her mother and two sisters, Eveline Keeling Hall and Doris Keeling Hendrixson. The three sisters remained close throughout their lives and enjoyed spending holidays and vacations together with their families. Bonnie attended school in Enola, Arkansas, where she graduated as valedictorian of her high school class. Following her graduation from high school, she attended nursing school at the Saint Vincent Infirmary Nursing School in Little Rock, where she graduated as a registered nurse in 1950. She served as a registered nurse at Ft. Roots Medical Center, now a part of the VA Healthcare System, where she met her future husband, Grady Stubbs, who worked as an orderly. After their marriage and the birth of their son James, the couple moved from North Little Rock to Pine Bluff, where Bonnie worked as a registered nurse for the Department of Defense until her retirement. Subsequent to their retirement in 1980, Bonnie and Grady built their dream home on Northshore Drive in Benton, where they lived for the remainder of their lives.
Bonnie was an active and enthusiastic church member throughout her life, both at Forrest Park Baptist Church of Pine Bluff and First Baptist Church of Benton. She was particularly active with her Sunday school class and the senior adult choir, and she dearly loved to take trips with church groups. Bonnie could always be counted on for a great joke, and she loved to laugh and spend time with her many friends and family members.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Doris and Eveline. She is survived by her son, James (Jim) Stubbs; daughter-in-law, Brenda Stubbs; and granddaughter, Genie (Geneva) Stubbs, all of Houston, Texas. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Bonnie was a bright, beautiful light in the lives of all who knew her and will be dearly missed by all her family and friends.
Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, March 17th at Ashby Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 18th at Rosemont Cemetery in Benton. Bro. Clay Cunningham will be officiating.
Online guest book at
www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.Published by The Saline Courier from Mar. 14 to Mar. 15, 2025.