Mary passed away peacefully on Sept. 19, 2024, at her daughter Ann’s home in Hurst, TX. She was born on Nov. 13, 1926, in Bourbon County, KS (north of Cato, KS) to Dick Benjamin and Ava (Ater) Coonrod.
Mary attended a one room school through 8th grade and graduated from Arcadia High School in 1944. In Sept. 1944, she enrolled in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps program at St. Francis School of Nursing in Wichita, KS. She left the program in 1946 to marry Milton L. Bournonville, her high school sweetheart, on Feb. 8, 1946. Mick preceded her in death on Oct. 30, 2019, in Surprise, AZ. Mary and Milton had two daughters and lived in Pittsburg, KS most of their lives. They retired to Shell Knob, MO in 1986 and moved to Sun City West, AZ in 2001 to live near their daughter Connie.
Mary was a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She was involved with church activities as a Sunday school teacher, Elder, chairman of the church board and summer camp counselor. Mary was active in Church Women United for over 60 years and received the Key Woman award in 2013.
In addition to her church activities, Mary also volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and as a counselor for the Pittsburg YMCA Teen Town in the 1950s. Her memberships included American Legion Auxiliary, Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile.
Survivors include her two daughters and their spouses, Ann and David Wiegand of Hurst, TX and Connie and John Province of Sun City West, AZ; her four grandchildren and their spouses, Kristy and Kevin Gintz of Peoria, AZ, Rob and Carrie Province of University City, MO, Elizabeth and John (Jay) E. Allmon IV of Memphis, TN and David and Erenia Loggins of Lake Dallas, TX; her three great-grandsons Michael Gintz, Mark Gintz and Trevor Loggins plus many nieces and nephews.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents Dick and Ava (Ater) Coonrod; six brothers, Carl, Fred, Wesley, Guy, George and John Coonrod and one sister Susie Coonrod.
Mary will be interned next to her husband Mick at Fort Scott National Cemetery (U.S. National Cemetery #1), Fort Scott, KS in June 2025.
Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, 705 E. Centennial, Pittsburg, KS.