Bonnie Louise Atwell

Bonnie Louise Atwell, 92, of Perry, passed away at her home on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Perry Chapel, located at 1721 Park Street, Perry, Iowa 50220. Visitation will take place two hours prior to the service, beginning at 9:00 a.m., also at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.caldwellparrish.com.

Bonnie was born on January 12, 1934, in Satanta, Kansas, the daughter of Howard and Alta (Hall) Davis. During the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era, the family lived on a sandhill farm near the Cimarron River. When Bonnie was three years old, the family moved to Liberal, Kansas.

At the age of 12, Bonnie left school and began working. By the time she was 14, she was employed at Black’s Drug Store Confectionery, earning 45 cents an hour. Determined to complete her education, she later returned to school and graduated from Liberal High School in Liberal, Kansas, in 1954. She then attended Brown Mackie School of Business, graduating in the spring of 1955. That summer, Bonnie began working for Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Company in Liberal as a mail clerk.

On December 16, 1955, she met the love of her life, Elmo Paul Atwell. The couple was united in marriage on April 7, 1956, and shared many wonderful years together.

One of Bonnie’s proudest accomplishments was becoming a wife and mother to her two children. She was proud to be a full-time homemaker and enjoyed helping Elmo and their family build their first home in the States.

Bonnie had a heart for service and was a dedicated volunteer. She volunteered at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Liberal for more than 20 years, organizing and leading a large volunteer group. She was also a member of the Community Chorus for two decades.

A gifted writer, Bonnie enjoyed poetry, history, and storytelling. She authored several romance novels and cherished time spent with her family, whom she loved dearly.

She is survived by her son, Doug (Janet) Atwell of Perry; her daughter, Trudy (Anthony) Howell of Lapeer, Michigan; 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and many other extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Alta Davis; her beloved husband, Elmo Atwell; daughter-in-law, Sherrie Atwell; granddaughter, Shersa Louise Howell; and her siblings, Rolley Davis, Malvin Davis, Loren Collins, Pat Courtney, and Dean Davis.