Bonnie Alice Mcmechan

Bonnie McMechan, 92 of Fontana, Kansas passed away Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at her home. Bonnie was born on December 7, 1931 in North Platte, Nebraska, the third child of William McKinley and Chloe Ethel (Gilbert) Ross.

She came to Kansas in 1954 and met William Jennings McMechan.  They were united in marriage in 1954. They began their lives together in rural Spring Hill.  Bonnie continued working as a waitress until she had her twins, Linda and Michael in July of 1955.  She stayed home raising the twins until Jennings passed away following a car accident in October of 1959.  Shortly after that time, Bonnie moved her mother and father from Nebraska to Kansas to her farm where they helped with the farming and raising the twins.  In 1963, she moved to Parker, Kansas.  She had various jobs until purchasing Lane Café & Tavern in the late 1960’s where people came from miles around, especially for her home cooking. In 1981, she met and married Raymond Poage and continued to manage the café & tavern until the mid-1980’s.  During this time, they moved to their current residence in rural Fontana where she spent the next 40 year raising cattle, babysitting children, and spoiling grandkids.

Bonnie enjoyed helping Raymond on the farm with cattle and her favorite was raising bottle calves.  She also liked mowing, driving golf carts, garage sales, auctions, and scratch-off lottery tickets. After Raymond retired, she loved going out to eat, driving around the countryside, and watching him work on farm equipment.  Seeing her grandchildren brought her the most joy in life, especially in her later years.

Bonnie is survived by her husband Raymond Poage Fontana, Kansas and daughter, Linda Crouch (Steve Watson), Lane, KS.  She has 5 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her firsthusband, Jennings McMechan, son Michael McMechan, parents William and Chloe Ross, brother Jack Ross and sisters Melzine Ross, Margret Duffield, Freda Anderson, Neva Favinger and Gladys Thomas.

Bonnie will be missed by her family and friends.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 7th from 6-8 p.m. and funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at Eddy Birchard Funeral Home, Osawatomie, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Home Health and Hospice. Bonnie’s family would like to collect your favorite memory/memories of her.  They would appreciate your taking the time to write something and leave at the visitation or funeral services for family to share together after services. If you wish you may email it to [email protected] or send it to her daughter Linda.