Bonnie Rhea Henry

Bonnie Rhea Henry, affectionately known as “BonBon,” “Mimi,” “Mom,” and “Babe” to her loved ones, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2026, at the age of 70 after a courageous 26-year battle with breast cancer. Born on March 18, 1956, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she was the cherished daughter of Beverly Rae Woodson and Charles Edward Barrett.

To encapsulate Bonnie in just a few paragraphs is no easy task. She was a shining star, a beautiful light both inside and out. Her kindness radiated to all she met; she was silly, loved to laugh, and found joy in making others feel seen, heard, and comfortable. Above all, Bonnie loved her family fiercely. Resilient and unyielding, she never let life’s challenges grind her down. As a mother, friend, and partner, she was the epitome of what everyone desired to have and to be.

Bonnie grew up in Gentry, Arkansas, before moving to Springfield, Missouri, where she fell in love with a railroader she met at The Spaghetti Factory. They would be inseparable for the next 48 years.

Bonnie enjoyed traveling, recently exploring Europe with her husband, John, and her lifelong best friend, April Johnson, and her husband, Jim. She cherished quality time with her family, especially her five beloved grandchildren. Her passions included genealogy, history, and documentaries, and she was proud to be an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation Tribe, and a relative of the “Cherokee Kid,” Will Rogers.

For over 35 years, Bonnie was a talented hairstylist, owning salons in both Rolla, Missouri, and Rogers, before retiring in 2019 to pursue her dreams of travel, leisure, and being with her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Brad Barrett, and her sister Mary Beth Clark. Bonnie is survived by her devoted husband, John Henry, whom she married on October 12, 1979; her daughter, Ashley Henry Kennedy, and her husband, Adrian, of Rogers; her son, Sean Henry, and his wife, Rebekah, of Rogers; her brother, Mike Barrett, of Gentry; five grandchildren, Rozalyn, Breckyn, Bridger, Stellan, and Bradley; and a host of nieces and nephews, including her baby niece, Shelby Hawkins Nelson, and her husband, Jeff.

A celebration of Bonnie’s life will be announced at a later date by the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bonnie’s honor may be sent to Clay Morgan at the Humane Society for Animals, Inc. (nwahumanesocietyforanimals.org) or to http://PBS.org.