Mary Bonham, age 96, of Sulphur Springs, passed away peacefully at her home on March 27, 2024, surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be on Monday, April 1, at 2:00 pm at West Oaks Funeral Home, 500 Hillcrest Dr., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service starting at 1:00 pm.
Mary Louise Spencer Bonham was born on February 15, 1928, in Hopkins County to Johnny and Annie Kitts Spencer. Mary, the 3rd of five children, grew up and stayed in her community, always working, starting as a beauty operator on Oak Avenue. She had three children with her first husband, Bill Adair, the first being stillborn, Rhonda, and then Billy Ray.
Tragedy struck when they lost their youngest child, Billy Ray, at the age of seven in 1968. Mary later married Sam Bonham, joining him in business at the Sulphur Springs Parts Company. Later, Sam and Mary expanded the J-B Weld Company across the United States. Sam passed away in 1989, but Mary never slowed down, bringing her daughter Rhonda into the business as they expanded the company worldwide. Mary remained active in the business until they sold it in 2009. Mary excelled in anything she did, whether it was business, horse racing, cracking and selling pecans, philanthropy, and, in later years, quilting.
The namesake of the local Kid’s Kingdom playground, Mary’s donation, and foresight have provided tens of thousands of kids a safe and fun place to play at the local Buford Park. Although Mary worked at an early age instead of continuing her education, she was adamant that higher education was imperative to success. She established several scholarship funds for Hopkins County students as well as endowments at Texas A&M University-Commerce (TAMU-C) to help students pursue their dreams.
Her philanthropy at TAMU-C earned her an honorary doctorate from the university. Mary was named Citizen of the Year, a Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation Gala Chair and honoree, a recipient of the local MLK award, and honored with the TAMU-C Equine Pavillion named after her, among numerous other awards. Mary impacted many lives in the Hopkins County community. She was of the Baptist faith and a longtime member of Lake Highlands Baptist Church.
Surviving Mary are her daughter Rhonda Young and husband Chad, grandchildren Keith Shing and husband Bobby, and Kristin Potts, and husband Kerry. Her great-grandchildren are Kennedy Potts (Braxton Curliss), Kate Potts (Ty Lopez), Max Calhoun-Shing, and step-granddaughter Sara Young. Mary is also survived by one brother, Charles Spencer, and wife Glenna, sister-in-law Jaquie Spencer, and longtime companion, Jack Moore, along with a host of very special cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, one stillborn son, one son, Billy Ray, and her husband of 20 years, Sam Bonham. She was also preceded in death by her siblings: Rose Enix, Ola Worsham, and J.W. Spencer Jr.
A private graveside service will be held at New Hope Cemetery. Ben Worsham, Dusty Worsham, David Gideon, Ray Glenn Jordan, Lee Pogue, and Logan Pogue will serve as pallbearers. Carl Bryan, Ronnie Charles, Tom Johnson, and Heath Hyde will be honorary pallbearers.
Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations go to the New Hope Cemetery, 2155 County Road 4708, Sulphur Springs, 75482.
Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home in Sulphur Springs.
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