Bonnie Lee Connelly, age 85, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in Inverness on July 27th, 2026. Born in Springfield, Illinois, she was the daughter of the late Eldon Hubert and Goldie Ellen (Whitesell) Beckner.
Bonnie met the love of her life at a Lanphier High School dance in 1955. She and Rich were married in 1975 at the First Church of God in Springfield, blending their families into one loving family of seven. Bonnie had a career as a pharmacy technician and medical administrator. When Rich retired, he and Bonnie moved to Florida, where they became part of the Inverness community and made their home for over 30 years. She was an avid bowler and gardener.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 51 years, Richard, who died just two weeks ago. In addition, she was predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law, Leonard “Harvey” and Glenna B. Beckner; her sister and brother-in-law, Margaret Alberta “Bert” and Donald B. Bounds; and son-in-law, Dan O’Connor
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters: Ellen (Ron) Raab of Inverness, Candice “Candy” O’Connor of Pleasant Planes, IL; sons, Michael “Mike” (Sherry) Connelly of Inverness and Martin “Marty” Connelly of Springfield, IL, and Toni (Rick) Billbe of Ardmore, Alabama; 12 grandchildren: Terry J. “TJ” (Aom), Stephanie N. Clark, Ashley M. (Aaron) McGlauchen, Brittney N. O’Connor, David C. (Ariell) Peel, Jennifer K. Cortes, Laura E. (Shannon), Blake M. (Annamarie), Austin T., Dalton C. Connelly, Travis A. (Tina), and Timothy W. (Leah) Billbe; and 16 great grandchildren: Izaiah C. Chappell, Axton K. McGlauchen, and Rylie H. Dorsey, Gavin H. Cortes, Olivia L. Cortes, Lucia E. “Lucy” Martinez, Trinity J., Channing J., Nolan M., Finnick R. Connelly, Jericho J., Lora L., William A., Aiden S., Oakley B., And Lainey K. Billbe; many loving nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life for Bonnie will be held in conjunction with one for Rich on Friday, September 18, 2026 at 11:30 AM in Florida National Cemetery. Friends and family can gather at the funeral home between 10 and 10:15 AM, and will leave in procession at 10:40. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Cremation Care, Inverness.
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