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Bonita (Bonnie) was born November 28, l939 to Raymond and Grace Higbee in Jamestown. NY.
She graduated from Randolph Central School in Randolph, NY in 1957: WCA Hospital School of Nursing, Jamestown, NY in1960: Jamestown Community College and St. Joseph's College, Maine.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Boger City United Methodist Church with Rev. Jennifer Hampton officiating.
She was proceeded in death by her husband H. Michael Edwards, by her grandparents Frank and Floye Bartlett who raised her, her mother Grace and stepfather Carl Nowell, her father Raymond and stepmother Shirley.
She is survived by a half-brother Chuck Higbee, a cousin Carolyn Reslink, four stepdaughters, Lee Crowell (Pierce), Holly Buck (Chris), KC Swindoll, Kim Jauquet (Mike), and step grandchildren Elle, Matt, Andi, Michael, Cameron, Colin, Cole, Heidi, Danielle, Ben, Ethan and Tessa.
Bonnie worked nearly 50 years as a nurse. Working across the county and back to WCA Hospital in Jamestown where she worked for 28 years before moving to North Carolina in 1994. While at WCA she became head nurse in the Emergency Room and soon joined the Emergency Nurse Association (ENA). She also became involved in the local Chautauqua County Emergency Medical Services Council (EMS) and chaired the Three County Regional EMS Council. She served 8 years on the NY State EMS Council. While there she led the committee to write the first ever NY State EMS plan. She also served on the first committee to write standards for Emergency Departments and Trauma Centers in NY state.
She served as President of the NY state ENA council and was awarded the Anita Dorr award as NY state Emergency Nurse of the Year in 1985. She was Certified Emergency Nurse from the first time the exam was given.
Bonnie taught EMTs at all levels. Some teasingly called her the "Mother of EMS" in Chautauqua County. She took the first course for Advanced Cardiac Life Support offered in NY state and became an instructor for many years.
In 1994 she left her job as Assistant Director of Nursing at WCA and started working at Lincoln Medical Center in the Emergency Department. After about a year she was promoted to Nursing Supervisor. She retired in 2004 but still worked occasionally as Nursing Supervisor in the ED until 2009.
"Grandma Bonnie" loved crossword puzzles, sudoku, tending her rose bushes, swimming with her family in her backyard pool, watching football, playing cards, and volunteering with United Women of Faith and the Lions Club. Bonnie was a dedicated member of Boger City United Methodist Church and loved to sing in the choir.
Memorial donations can be made to Boger City United Methodist Church and the Lincolnton Lions Club.
Warlick Funeral Home is serving the Edwards family.