The family of Bonnie Louise (Schrage) Lambert of Abilene, Kansas, is saddened to announce her unexpected passing on September 2, 2024, at the age of 77 years.
Bonnie was born in Pennsylvania and was the only child of Harold and Irene Barley. As she grew, her military family moved periodically with her father’s military assignments to places like Alaska and Texas. Bonnie graduated from Burges High School in El Paso, TX in 1965 and went on to study cosmetology.
She eventually moved to Iowa living in Aplington and Cedar Rapids before settling in Shell Rock in 1972 and raising a family. She lived in Shell Rock for 19 years as a stay-at-home mother working various jobs utilizing her creative abilities and people skills including in-home childcare, florist at Ecker’s Flowers, salesperson at Sylvester’s Furniture Store and a waitress at the Red Fox Inn. She eventually started her own dog grooming business and bred and showed Shih Tzus.
From Iowa, she returned to El Paso and married high school classmate David Lambert on November 23, 1992, who was her incredibly patient, understanding and loving life partner for nearly 32 years. Bonnie began her own mobile dog grooming business, a first in the El Paso community. She went on to win many awards for her grooming abilities. Following that, she and David began their first successful business working extremely hard as a two-person 24/7 Ryder Truck roadside service company while living in Chaparral, New Mexico. During that time, she also lovingly cared for her father in the home as he struggled with his failing health.
After many successful years in the service business, Bonnie and David moved to Big Springs, Texas, where they purchased, extensively renovated and improved and successfully operated a full service 52 space campground. Bonnie loved meeting new people and inviting guests into their park.
Her love of hospitality led them to the mountain resort community of Ruidoso, New Mexico. There they owned their own bed and breakfast in the beautiful Sierra Blanca Mountain range. Bonnie made their home into a warm and inviting oasis for her guests and took great pride in the accommodations she worked hard to provide. During that time, she also loving cared for her father-in-law in their home as he struggled with his failing health. Unfortunately, the bed and breakfast was tragically destroyed in the devastating Little Bear forest fire of 2012.
Bonnie and David found themselves at a crossroads yet again. It was at that time they made the decision to retire and move closer to their family in the Midwest. They bought, renovated and remodeled a beautiful little acreage in the country near Abilene, Kansas in 2014 where they have resided ever since.
Everyone who knew Bonnie knew how innovative, intelligent, driven and creative she was! Bonnie loved using her creative skills for interior design, crafts and floristry, just to name a few and she was always innovating, improving and remodeling her home or business. While in Iowa, Bonnie was an active member of the Shell Rock Music Association and enjoyed creating costumes and dancing in the shows. She and David enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren and traveling to visit family. Bonnie had a lifelong passion for animals and always had a fur baby by her side.
Bonnie was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by her husband, David Lambert of Abilene, KS, her son, Mike Schrage and his wife Mary of Salina, KS, her daughter, Crystal Moore and her husband Mark of Waverly, IA and her eight grandchildren: Emily (Schrage) Fairbanks, Sarah Schrage, Andrew Schrage, Grace Moore, Ashley Schrage, Holly Moore, Amber Moore and Alex Moore. Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents and one grandchild, Isabelle Moore.
As per Bonnie’s request, no funeral or memorial services will be held. In celebration of Bonnie’s life, the family asks that donations be directed towards Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery 3229 East Waterwell Salina, KS 67401 in her memory.