Bonnie Kate "Kay" Arnold

Bonnie Kate "Kay" Arnold

June 26, 1919 - Sept. 10, 2017

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Bonnie Kate "Kay" Arnold, age 98, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, at Linden Court.

Kay was born June 26, 1919, to Walter Grey and Mary Lucy (Chapman) McAuley in Hopkins County, Texas, where she grew up then moved to Dallas, Texas in the late 1930s. Kay married Leslie Lee Godfrey in 1941 and the couple had two daughters. Kay was married to Captain George Crain in 1952. In 1966, Kay married Wesley Stewart.

On Feb. 21, 1981, Kay was united in marriage to Harry James Arnold, Jr. in New Orleans, La. They lived in Dallas before moving to Waveland, Miss., in 2002. After Hurricane Katrina took their home in 2005, they moved to North Platte.

Along with raising two daughters and caring for her mother, Kay worked for Olan Mill's Photography Studio from the early 1960s to 1997 as an area manager until retiring at the age of 77. Before and during retirement, Kay and Harry loved to travel and belonged to different RV clubs.

Although she spent most of her life in Texas, Kay did live in several other states as well as the Philippine Islands. While in North Platte, she attended the First United Methodist Church and Parkview Community Church of the Nazarene.

Kay lived a fearless life, not allowing obstacles to detract her from her goals. She was an inspiration and positive role model to her daughters, grandchildren and everyone she interacted with. Kay's steadfastness is reflected in their lives today.

Kay is survived by her daughters, Leslie (Jim) Greer of Seattle, Wash., and Gayle (Mike) Sharkey of North Platte; grandchildren, Tracy Foster and Tina (Charles) Clark of Seattle, Tosha (Christian) Kirkham of Portland, Ore., and Donald (Wendy) Hileman of Kansas City, Mo.; 13 great-grandchildren, Spencer, Stuart, Lexi and Skyler Johnson, Ethan Kirkham, Nicholas and Keerlyn Molina, Andrew and Audrie Hileman, Daniel and Nicholas Foster, and Benjamin and Andrew Clark; eight great-great-grandchildren; and other family.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Wesley Stewart and Harry Arnold, Jr.; parents, Walter Grey and Mary Lucy McAuley; and an infant brother, James Alfred McAuley.

Cremation was chosen. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore in North Platte with the Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Delp officiating. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the North Platte Shrine Children's Transportation Fund.