Bonnie Knowles

Bonnie Absheer Knowles, 100 of Poplar Bluff, Mo., went to be with her Lord, family & friends, Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Mark Twain Caring Center. She was born to the late Charles Robert & Gelina Smith Absheer on July 22, 1917, on the family farm in Wayne County near Piedmont, MO. When Bonnie was two years old, Her mother, older brother Willard, and a baby brother, passed away in the flu epidemic. Her father, Charles later met & married Cassie Meador Absheer, the mother that raised her. Bonnie grew up in the Old Greenville area, where she graduated from high school in 1936 after playing on the girls' basketball team for all 4 years. On December 5, 1943 she married MSGT Herman Knowles. She was a loving faithful military wife during their 43 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on April 7, 1987. Bonnie was a fixture for over 30 years behind the fountain at Belknap's Drug Store. Belknap's was the meeting place for the working people downtown, when there was a ballgame or horserace, they would get up a "pot" and Bonnie took care of the money so she was called "The Bookie". Over the years whenever there was an individual or family in need or someone lost a loved one, Bonnie always saw to it that money was collected to help. The "Downtown Belknap Gang" took care of the needs of many in the community. When Belknap's closed she spent 7 years at Jim Hogg's Supermarket before retiring in 1982. In 1988, she returned to work to help her son Robert with his business, Rob's Flowers & Gifts, where she spent several years until retiring to spend time with her grandkids & watch her beloved St. Louis Cardinals. Bonnie was one of the sweetest, kind, caring, loving person you could have met. She was a long time member of First Church of God, where she was active in The Silver Links Sunday School Class & The Women of the Church of God. Bonnie is survived by her son, Robert Knowles, daughter-in-law Debbie Knowles; grandchildren, Andy & Billie Jo Knowles, Cassie & Derek Sieben; six great-grandchildren, Allie Murphree, Lexi Sieben, Kenzie Sieben, Mirah Knowles, Blake Sieben, and Aubree Siebern; one sister, Betty Absheer; three nieces, Terra (Dave) Downing, Becky (keith) Brent, & Susan (Reid) Forrester; and many great & great-great nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Willard Absheer, Paul Absheer, & Herbert Absheer, and sister-in-laws Nonna Rae (Bowden) Absheer & Joyce (Presson) Absheer. Visitation will be 6 - 8 P.M. Friday, August 18, 2017 at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 A.M. Saturday August 19, 2017 at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Ben Higgins Officiating. Burial will follow at the Memorial Gardens Cemetery.