Bonita Mae Rutherford's Obituary
Bonita Mae Rutherford, our precious Granna, passed away on April 8, 2026, at the age of 87.
She was born on July 16, 1938, in Claude, TX, to Roy and Bonnie Smothermon. She grew up and attended school in Claude, where she spent the majority of her life. She married William "Billy" Rutherford on April 22, 1958, in El Paso. After they were married, they lived in Dumas, where their first daughter, Billie, was born. Then they moved to Claude and had their second daughter, Bartie. Shortly after, they relocated to Tulia for a time before returning to Claude and having their third daughter, Buckie.
Bonita became a proud Granny at the age of 40 and had a hands-on role in the lives of her grandchildren. She was known as Granny until her youngest granddaughter, Cameron, came along and then she lovingly became known as Granna. She lived a life full of love and faith. She especially enjoyed reading her Bible and being with family or keeping up with them on Facebook.
She was a member at the Claude Methodist Church and loved the Lord. She delivered numerous lunches to the field hands during harvest and she rode countless miles alongside Billy in the truck. She talked fondly about those trucking trips, especially the ones Lucas joined them on. She also worked for several years at the Hudson House in Claude.
She will be greeted in heaven by her husband, Billy; her parents, Roy and Bonnie; her daughter, Bartie; her brother, Mickey; her son-in-law, Randy; twin great-grandsons, Hunter and Brewer; and nephews, Matthew and Roy.Bonita is survived by her sister, LeeNet; her daughters, Billie Cosper and Buckie Crump; her grandchildren, Joshua Minkley and wife Naomi, Kirstin Farren and husband Shannon, Lucas Minkley and wife Amber, Nash Baker and wife Larissa, Cameron Rich and husband Ryder, Christian Cosper and Wife Rebecca; her great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Avery, Kennedy, Asher, Evelyn, Logan, Hazel, Myles, Paisley, Oakley, and Chevy; a neice, Joann and nephews, Clint and Kurt. We were all so blessed to have her in our lives.
She will be remembered for so many things, some of which are taking her grandkids to DQ for ice cream, her chicken enchiladas, angel food cake, peanut butter pie, sweet tea, banana pudding, and meatloaf (no one makes it quite like she did), her countless hours of back scratching while you laid your head in her lap (sometimes even at church), carefully made pallets by the bed when grandkids spent the night, watching the Cowboys or Bulls play, her favorite saying, "Whatever blows up your dress" when she was implying you could do whatever you wanted, even if she didn't always agree, always having Little Debbie snacks in the pantry, allowing grandkids to drink coffee, waking her kids up singing "This is the day that the lord Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it" or "Rise and shine and give God the glory glory", always having breakfast made, having her Bible on the kitchen bar where she sat on "her" stool, standing over the floor furnace in the winter, and always being there for us in more ways than we can list.
Bonita was known as Sister to her younger sis, LeeNet. On occasion, she was asked if she was a nun when referred to as "Sister" in public. She was able to spend the last years of her life with her daughters, got to enjoy time with her great-grandkids, and spent the last year and a half with her sister, where they were able to talk and reminisce about the old days. She was dearly loved and will be deeply missed.
A graveside service will be held at the Claude Cemetery on Tuesday, April 14th, at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Janet Edwards officiating.
Arrangements are under the care of Robertson Funeral Directors.
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