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Bonnie Jean West, 77, peacefully passed on to be with her Lord at 3:15 a.m. Sunday, October 22. Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Zada and Charles Hise; three brothers, Milton, Charles, and Jack Hise; and her sister, Lois Williams. Bonnie is survived by her brothers, Harold and Donald Hise; her five children and their spouses: sons, Robert West of Portales and Steve and Cindy West of Albuquerque; daughters, Carolyne and John Karnofel of Salinas, CA, Barbara and Marshall Medlin of Dallas, TX, Cynthia and Daniel Lewis of Santa Cruz, CA, Bonnie is also survived by eight grandchildren: Heath Rice, Clint West, Nathan West, Stephanie Lewis, Kate Fuller, Amanda West, Jessica Medlin, and Claire Medlin; and ten great-grandchildren. Bonnie was born on October 29, 1928, in Vernon, TX. From 1930 to 1974 she lived in various communities throughout New Mexico (mostly Los Lunas and Albuquerque). She was married to Leslie West from 1945 to 1970. In 1974 she relocated to California to be closer to her daughters and to complete her Bachelors Degree in Art and Psychology from UC Santa Cruz. In 1984 she lived in Dallas to be near her other daughter and grandchildren before returning to Albuquerque in 1990 where the rest of her family lives. Upon returning to New Mexico she earned a Master's Degree in Counseling from Webster University. For many years Bonnie taught art as well as doing counseling and art therapy work. Most recently she was an active member of the New Mexico Art League serving as President for several years. Those blessed to know Bonnie Jean know she lived life to the fullest. She was passionate about helping to make the world a more beautiful place and helping others see and appreciate the beauty and blessings God bestows upon us each day. Bonnie loved gardening; making her gardens sanctuaries of beauty, peace, and love. She also created many paintings capturing what she saw and felt. She enjoyed baking (especially with sourdough), singing, dancing, playing games, reading, listening to music, traveling, walking, making new friends, learning new things but, most importantly, she loved praising the Lord. Bonnie was a shining example of loving unconditionally and putting others' needs before her own. Her values and her legacy of love will live on in many ways through those whose lives she touched. Bonnie Jean (Bamba) will be terribly missed in her earthly form but rest assured that she has now taken her rightful place with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ to whom she gave all the glory and to whom she turned in difficult times. Friends may visit French Mortuary, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE, Friday, October 27, 2006, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at French Mortuary, Lomas Blvd. Chapel, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE, Saturday, October 28, 2006, 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul NE. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made in the name of Bonnie West to the American Cancer Society, 10501 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Suite 300, Albuquerque, NM, 87111, Attn. Lorraine West. Please specify Lung Cancer Research by calling 1-800-227-2345 or to the VistaCare Hospice Foundation at 5639 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, 87109. Arrangement by French Mortuary 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500
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