Bonnie J. Westbay of Knoxville, Illinois passed on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 7:20 P.M. at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Illinois with her family by her side.
She was born on April 10, 1931 in Delong, Illinois, the daughter of Garnet (Ferris) Gravitt and Lawrence Gravitt. Her biological father was Morris Peck whom she met later in life. In her early years they lived with her loving grandparents Mable and Grant Ferris. She attended and graduated from ROVA High School. She married Charles D. “Bud” Westbay on September 30, 1950. He survives of Knoxville, Illinois. Their love for each other was referred to as a notebook story by all of the staff at Bounce Back.
Surviving are their children: Chuck (Shelley) Westbay of Elmwood, Shirley Jo Placher, Steve Westbay and Bette (John Maere) Westbay all of Knoxville, Illinois; eleven grandchildren: Anji Gabriele, Dan Westbay, Tracey Hutchison, Ryan Reed, Chance Uhland, Lacie Clark, Mitchell Westbay, C.L. Cummings, and Clark Cummings; seventeen great grandchildren: Vito, Gino, Joey Gabriele, Nolan and Dexter Westbay, Dalton and Hannah Hutchison, Quincy and Colten Uhland, Sutton and Finley Shook, Eastyn Westbay, Emily, Charlie and Bradley Cummings, Hailee Meyer and Matt Cummings; and one great-great grandchildson: Carson Meyer; two brothers, Gil Gravitt of Delevan and Sammy Gravitt of Peoria; special cousin, Beverly Gordon of California. She was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter-in-law, Jeannie Westbay; two grandchildren, Jay Reed and Logan Cummings; and a sister, Frances Martinson.
Bonnie was a member of the Knoxville United Methodist Church. Her loving family was the pride of her life and she was fortunate enough to be very close to all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bonnie and Bud owned and operated Westbay Equipment of Galesburg for many years and she was involved with the American Cancer Relay for Life and other fundraising events for cancer. They enjoyed traveling and did so extensively. Bonnie had a large group of loving and devoted family and friends. She wanted to be included in every conversation even until the end. She was dynamite in a small package.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, December 3, 2023, with visitation beginning at 1:00 P.M. at the Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Homes & Crematory in Knoxville, with Rev. David Mustain officiating. Burial will be in the Knoxville Cemetery, Knoxville, Illinois. A celebration of life will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. at The Watering Hole at Oak Run, Dahinda, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude’s. On-line condolences and/or expressions of sympathy may be sent through www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com
