Bonnie Cox

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Bonnie Fern (Slaughter) Cox, passed into the arms of her precious Lord and Savior, October 8, 2026, with her best friend and husband, Don by her side.

Bonnie was born to Albert and Minnie (Mead) Slaughter on March 31, 1938, in Neosho.

She attended Swars Prairie Baptist Church, where she and Don were both saved. They met there when she was 10 years old. They were married there in 1957 and spent 69 years together.

Bonnie served the Lord with great fervor and love for the rest of her years. She was always bold about telling others about Jesus. She taught many in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Team Kids. One of her favorite things to do with kids was helping them learn memory verses. She also led many Ladies Bible study groups.

Bonnie was also passionate about education. She graduated from Seneca High School as Valedictorian in 1955. She continued her education earning her Teaching Certificate from Southwest Baptist College, Bolivar, and began teaching at Westview School, Hickory Grove and completed her first 30 years of teaching at Neosho R5 schools. In addition, she served as Principal at Intermediate School and as Director of Elementary Education. She continued earning degrees, getting her Masters and Specialist Degrees at Pittsburgh State University. She received her Doctorate degree from Oklahoma State University. Bonnie maintained a 4.0 GPA through all of her education. Bonnie also taught at PSU and MSSU before retiring in 2008.

Bonnie also had her Private Pilot license, license as Missouri Water Well Contractor and real estate license.

She was a former member of Neosho Soroptimist Club and had served as Grand Esther of the Eastern Star.

Bonnie and Don enjoyed many years of traveling to various countries and visited 50 states and 10 provinces of Canada. They traveled by ship, motorhome and motorcycle. They spent 17 years as Winter Texans, where Bonnie was activity director planning many fun parties and trips. Bonnie always had fun and wanted everyone else to have fun with her. She was always planning a game or two. She was an avid quilter and enjoyed sewing. She and her mother, Minne, were members of the Dogwood Trail Blazer’s and together walked in all 50 states of the U.S.

Bonnie is survived by her dearest friend and husband, Don. She was preceded in death by her parents, her 4 brothers, Ralph, Donald, Ed and Jackie and infant sister, Alberta.

Bonnie is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins and a special friend, Sharon Johnson. Bonnie and Don are especially thankful for the incredible care and love from Dale and Mary Bond, Nancy Hignite, Gentiva and Trinity Hospice Care teams.

The family will receive friends on Monday evening, October 12, 2026, at the Clark Funeral Home from 5:30 to 7 pm. Funeral services will be held at 10 am, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at the Fellowship Baptist Church, with Dr. Buddy Fund and Pastor Steve Eggert officiating. Interment will follow in the Swars Prairie Baptist Cemetery and serving as pallbearers will be Larry Wade, Robert Allen, Dale Bond, Jeff Miller, Daniel Harris and Jacob Lett. In lieu of flowers, contributions in honor of Bonnie may be to Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, Shriner’s Crippled Children’s Hospital or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66; Neosho, Missouri 64850.