Bonnie Glee (Cobb) Shepherd

Bonnie Glee (Cobb) Shepherd was born on December 18, 1937, as a surprise, just 5 minutes after her twin brother, Donnie Lee Cobb, to Lenard Harrison and Elva Belle (Arthurs) Cobb. Bonnie left her earthly life and entered the presence of Jesus surrounded by her loving family on September 18, 2026.

Donnie’s name was already determined so Elva and Lenard had to rush to arrive to a female twin name. Lenard happened be to reading a newspaper describing the antics of the notorious Bonnie & Clyde. Lenard went straight to the hospital and told Elva that they had their name, Bonnie it was!

Bonnie & Donnie joined their older brother, Walter Elmer (W.E.) Cobb and would later have two younger sisters, Rosona Joy Cobb and Nancy Lynn Cobb.

Bonnie grew up living on a farm with her family; times were hard and very little money to be had and as such, everyone was taught a strong work ethic. The Cobb family always had plenty to eat and living on a farm, they had meat even if there wasn't much else.

Bonnie’s church life started when she was born. The Cobb family faithfully attended Miller Sunday School every Sunday morning and always went to Sunday evening services at Shattuck First Baptist Church. Bonnie was reared with a deep spiritual background and grew up knowing Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.

As a child, music was very important to Bonnie. Elva would teach Bonnie and Rosona songs as they washed and dried dishes. The first time Bonnie remembered singing in public she 5 years old alongside Rosona, and they sang "In The Garden" at a gathering of country Sunday Schools and churches.

Even with money being hard to come by Elva and Lenard ensured Bonnie’s talents were supported by providing her piano lessons to which she would make a lifetime joy of playing both piano and organ music. Bonnie served as the church organist for 60+ years showing the fruit of Elva & Lenard’s support of her passion. During those years, she played for 200+ funerals and a multitude of weddings.

Attending Junior High Glee Club intensified this love for music. The music teacher would often call her Bonnie “Glee Club”. As such, this nickname would follow her throughout her life and even in her final days would make her smile.

Bonnie’s dream of being a wife & mother would begin to unfold meeting Ferman “Don” Shepherd while in Junior High in the fall of 1952. He would become her forever companion. They began to date and between their junior-senior year announced that they would marry after completing high school. Don and Bonnie were wed on August 24, 1956. They were the first couple to be wed in the 50-year-old Catesby Methodist Church. One of the highlights of this event surrounded Bonnie’s grandparents having family in Pueblo, CO and thought it would be good idea to “hitch a ride” with them on their honeymoon. Bonnie was very unhappy about this; the topic has now become the source of a lot of laughs for the entirety of their marriage.

Don & Bonnie moved to Goodwell, OK to embark on their college journey at Panhandle State University where they would both complete their studies with bachelor’s degrees.

While in college, they would have two of their four children. Kimberly Jo was born on May 21, 1959, and Gayleen Ione was born on November 19, 1960. Bonnie had begun living the life she had dreamed, that of a wife and “Mom”.

After graduating from college, Don & Bonnie moved to Catesby, OK where they would reside for 2 ½ years farming alongside Don’s parents. During this time, Staci Gail was born May 6, 1963.

Don & Bonnie moved to Arnett, OK in 1963 after purchasing a dairy farm. They worked and built the life they had dreamed while the girls began attending Arnett Schools. They would live there for 8 years.

In March 1969, Bonnie’s father Lenard would suddenly pass away, and the very next week Don & Bonnie would adopt their son, Bradley Don born on January 9, 1969. Their family was now complete with 3 girls, 1 boy.

In 1971, Don & Bonnie moved to a property purchased north of Shattuck where they would go on to build a home and a dairy that would be their life for the next 30 years. Bonnie was now living her dream of being a wife, mother and daughter to the full. Bonnie was dedicated to the mission of farm wife. Both Don & Bonnie felt “working the land” was God’s vision for their life. Bonnie was the ideal dairy farm wife. Milking cows, to which Don claims that she likely milked as many cows or more as he. Always having food on the table whether that table was at home or in the field, driving tractors, moving implements, helping with cattle and all while raising 4 children.

Bonnie’s passion projects were many and those highlights centered around her love of sewing. Bonnie made nearly of the clothes for the girls while they grew and later moved to quilting and making hundreds of aprons for the windmill park, family & friends.

In October of 2000, Don & Bonnie sold the farm and moved to Shattuck where they would remain.

For the entirety of their lives, both Don & Bonnie felt the call to serve Jesus Christ. An excerpt from Bonnie’s personal life story says, “It is a wonderful feeling to know when God is calling you into something special. I knew without a doubt that God had chosen Don for my lifelong partner and that motherhood was part of His plan for my life.” For Bonnie, this manifested in a life of service to The Church through music in both singing and playing which included many years of playing the piano for her Shattuck Nursing Home friends.

Her service also included youth girls’ leadership of Girls in Action (G.A.’s) & Acteens, Sunday School leadership and, finally leading the class of “The Lord’s Lovely Ladies” which was senior adult women. The most important thing in Bonnie’s life was her relationship with Jesus Christ, whom she accepted as her Lord and Savior at the age of 9. Bonnie expressed love for The Lord’s people through her service to The Church.

An additional excerpt from her story reveals the approach to living her Christian life where she states, “John 10:10 is a verse I cling to in my Christian Walk. And to paraphrase it I would read it as thus - "Satan came to steal, kill, and destroy every area of my life, but Jesus came that I, Bonnie Shepherd, might have life and that I might have abundant life." I am not trying to suggest that my Christian Walk is always a glowing experience, for it is not. Many times, through the days I am reminded of the 51st Psalms.... Especially vs. 10, ‘Create in me a clean heart, 0 God; and renew a right spirit within me.’ I Praise God for being so good to me not because of me but in spite of me.”

Bonnie is survived by Don, her loving husband of 70 years; sister Nancy Kirby and sister-in-law Jeannina Cobb; children, Kim Thompson of Shattuck; Gayleen Busellato of Woodward, Staci Albert and husband Gary of Weatherford, Brad Shepherd of Edmond. Bonnie had 7 grandchildren: Gina Peralez and husband Arnold of Borger, TX, Nip Page and wife Lanna of Shattuck, Dannette Braley and husband Cole of Catesby, Anthony Busellato and wife Megan of Yuma, AZ, Brittney Bay and husband Kyle of Stillwater, Tyler Shepherd and wife Michayla of Mustang, Bradyn Shepherd and wife Jenna of Kingfisher; numerous great grandchildren, 1 great-great granddaughter, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents; Lenard and Elva (Arthurs) Cobb; in-laws Ferman and Edith (Baker) Shepherd; brothers, W.E. and Donnie Cobb, and sister, Rosona (Cobb) Yocum; sister-in-law, Lyndell (Shepherd) Howell and husband Marion; sons-in-law, Jerry Thompson and Johnny Busellato; brothers-in-law Glen Kirby and Kenneth Yocum.

The family would like to thank the caregivers of Newman Memorial Hospital, Shattuck Nursing Home and Haven Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Gideons International and/or Samaritan’s Purse.