Obituary of Bonnie Ruth Blades

Bonnie Ruth Blades, 78 of Moberly, passed away unexpectedly on March 2, 2020 at her winter home in Casa Grande, AZ. 

Bonnie, along with her husband Bobby Blades, was a long time resident of Moberly, MO.  She and her husband also enjoyed spending their summers with family in Russellville, KY and wintering in Casa Grande, AZ. 

Bonnie was born, April 18, 1941, to Leonard Cecil Canaday and Mary Margaret (Wallis) Canaday of the Maud area in Missouri.  Bonnie grew up in Monroe County and graduated from Shelbina High School in 1959.  After high school, Bonnie lived in Madison, MO and later moved to Madisonville, KY where she lived until the mid-1980s.  She and her husband, Bobby, then lived in St Louis for several years before retiring in Moberly.

Bonnie always loved and admired the beauty of life and took great pleasure in her painting and quilting hobbies.  Over the years, she made several charity quilts for cancer treatment patients and veterans services, as well as entering her work in many quilt and art shows.

Along with her hobbies, Bonnie was very active in her church.  She worshipped and had friends in each of her communities.  She was a member of the United Methodist Women’s Group and regularly served her church by participating as well as leading various charitable giving events.

As a mother and wife, Bonnie had a full life with a blended family of 8 children, 15 grandchildren, and an ever growing number of great grandchildren.

Bonnie is preceded in death by her parents, Mary Margaret and Leonard Canaday and brothers, Leonard Cecil Canaday Jr, and Wallis Dean Canaday; one son-in-law, Floyd Gordon.

Those surviving include her husband, Bobby Blades, and her children, Kathy (Jim) Thornton, Eugene Durbin, Lt. Colonel (retired) Robert C. and Jeannette Durbin, Jennifer (Jerry) Deck, Debra (Ray) Kirkley, Rhonda (Floyd) Gordon, Annie Shields, and Brian Blades as well as her numerous grand and great grandchildren.

Services celebrating Bonnie’s life will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Pathway Memorial Funeral Home, with interment in the Shelbina Cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday, March 9, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions in Bonnie’s honor are suggested to her church, Trinity United Methodist Women.