Bonnie Lee Dark, age 93, died on Saturday, May 4, 2024. She was born on October 21, 1930, in McCrory, Arkansas. She was the only child born to Douglas Lee and Pearl Lee. She was a graduate of McCrory High School and Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway, Arkansas, where she majored in Home Economics.
In 1951 she met Dewey Dark, a Methodist minister, at a youth group meeting in Ozark while serving as the Youth Director for the Clarksville First United Methodist Church. They married at McCrory Methodist Church in 1952 and moved to their first appointment in Lavaca.
Through the years, she and Dewey joyfully worked together in ministry. A beautiful and loving soul, Bonnie would light up any room and be full of love and compassion. Their ministry took them across the North Arkansas Conference, and they served at Lavaca, Bald Knob, Prairie Grove, Central Avenue at Batesville, Midland Heights at Fort Smith, Trinity in Fayetteville, Beebe, Marianna, Mountain Home, Wynne, and Paragould. Bonnie took particular joy in participating in the music ministries in their churches, singing in choirs, leading singing, and performing solos. While at Beebe First United Methodist Church in the early 70’s she began His Power and Light Company, a youth choir that presented musicals locally and on tour for many years. Throughout her ministry, she touched many lives.
She was a mother to four children and worked as a nutritionist with the Arkansas Department of Health, where counseling new mothers on diet and lactation was a fulfilling part of her career. After retiring in Cherokee Village, she performed in many theatrical productions with the Cherokee Village Players, including a dazzling lead performance as Dolly in Hello Dolly!, and found special joy in being a member of the Cherokee Village Community Chorus, the church Chancel Choir, and her United Methodist Women Circle. She remained active in the United Methodist Church in Cherokee Village and in the Arkansas United Methodist Conference. Since 2022, she has lived with her daughter, Lee Ann Dark, in Fayetteville, surrounded by her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her son Paul Douglas Dark.
She is survived by her daughter Lee Ann of Fayetteville, sons Stan Dark of Pea Ridge, and Barry Dark of Franklin, Tennessee, granddaughters Heather Dark, Chelsea Kendrick, and Alexa Dark, and great-granddaughters Martha Pearl and Penelope.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Friday, May 10th at Cherokee Village United Methodist Church, with visitation preceding the service at 9:30 am. Interment procession will proceed from the church to Bronaugh Cemetery in Hardy at 1:00 pm, following a light lunch reception.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Cherokee Village United Methodist Church, to the 200,000 More Reasons program through the Arkansas United Methodist Church, or to a charity of your choosing.
Arrangements entrusted with Wortham Funeral Home and Cremations of Highland, Arkansas.