Jo Ann Bonner

Jo Ann Weddington Bonner departed this life at the age of 89 Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Parkway Senior Living Retirement Community—Memory Care, Blue Springs, Mo. Jo Ann was born April 3, 1937, to David Leon and Ruby Lee McClendon Weddington near Harrisonville, Mo., in the Lone Tree community.

The family Jo Ann grew up in was large, and times were tough, especially after her mother passed away in 1942. She and her siblings were raised by their aunt, Daisy Hammontree. Jo Ann’s strong work ethic was forged early on when she began working to help support the family. After completing the 8th grade, her first job was washing dishes in a restaurant. She was so small she had to stand on a chair to reach the sink!

Though Jo Ann lacked a secondary education, she spent most of her adult life working in physicians’ and dentists' offices in the Kansas City metro area. When she worked for a successful dentist’s practice on the Plaza, she was the lead assistant, advancing to the position of office manager.

Jo Ann met her husband, Benjamin J. Bonner Jr., in Kansas City, and they were married soon after. In the early years, they lived in Wichita, Kan., but returned and settled in the Kansas City area. They had one son, Eric, who was born in 1959. For a number of years, the family lived on the east side of Kansas City but moved to South Kansas City in 1972 near Longview Lake.

Before Ben passed away in 1988, the couple decided to build a new home in Raymore, Mo. Interestingly, Jo Ann served as the general contractor for the project, hiring the sub-contractors and supervising the entire construction process. Even more interesting, the house was an earth contact structure, which garnered attention as a new type of home being built at the time. When completed, the home was surrounded by Jo Ann’s beloved flower gardens.

Following Ben’s death, Jo Ann met Berry Garrison and they formed a close bond, enjoying each other’s company at their place on Pomme de Terre Lake, where they fished for white bass and crappie. They also loved traveling, taking their RV to various places throughout the country. They spent several winters in Florida and Texas where they made many friends and square danced away!

Known for her quick wit and engaging personality, Jo Ann had a smile for everyone she met, especially her family. She loved family dinners, reunions, and spent countless hours chronicling the family’s genealogy. She also was deeply loved by her extended family, which included Fluff the Persian cat, who lived to be 20 years old, and Baron the German shepherd.

One of Jo Ann’s other lifelong passions was gardening. She had a greener thumb than most and won numerous awards for her efforts, including being named a master gardener in the state of Missouri. She also served as president of the Raymore Garden Club, and throughout the city she was known as the “flower lady.”

Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Scott Leon Weddington, Kenneth Weddington, Ollie Elizabeth Osburn, Barbara Jean Hill; and half-brother John Weddington.

She is survived by her son, Eric Bonner and his wife, Diann, of Blue Springs, Mo.; two granddaughters, Beth Ann Cook and her husband, Gabe, and their children, Charles and Dean of Blue Springs, Mo.; and Sara Bonner and her husband, Stuart Washington, and their son, Sylvan, of Kansas City, Mo. She is also survived by three half siblings, Lyle Dean Weddington, Sandra Hill and Holly Weddington, many nieces and nephews, and countless friends.

Visitation will be held 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 19, 2026 at Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri. 

Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 19, 2026 at Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri with interment at Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville, Missouri. 

The family hopes that when you think of Jo Ann, you’ll lovingly remember her warm smile, quick wit and the beautiful flowers she shared with so many of us.

The family suggests contributions be made to Monarch Hospice & Palliative Care (Shawnee Mission, Ks.), Catholic Charities, Wayside Waifs or Powell Gardens.