Bonnie Louise Gabbard, 75, of Beattyville, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 14, 2026, at the Greg and Noreen Wells Hospice Center in Hazard, Kentucky. Bonnie was born on September 25, 1950, in Hazel Park, Michigan, to Tunis and Mary Creech. Bonnie lived a life rooted in faith and love for the Lord. She was a woman of faith, but she was also feisty, strong-willed, and full of personality—qualities that made her uniquely Bonnie. Throughout her life, Bonnie was known by many names, including Mom, Mommy, Nene, Bonchie, Mother Ducky, Big Muz, and Mother. Bonnie was ‘mom’ to all of her daughters’ friends and during their high school times the Gabbard house was the ‘go to’ house because there was love, a deep sense of family and always extra seats at the dinner table that typically included food from their family garden. To those who knew and loved her, she was a hardworking woman with an incredible work ethic who believed in being early, going above and beyond and always followed the rules. Bonnie worked in many roles throughout her life, including a beautician, school crossing guard, school lunch lady, school recess monitor and a few retail and restaurant locations however, she would have told you that her favorite role was babysitting her grandchildren. She found some of her greatest joy in the simple things in life. Bonnie loved cheering on the Avondale High School Yellow Jackets and was always overly involved in all of her daughters school activities, grilling out, Diet Pepsi, chocolate, eating out, ice cream, playing bunco and card games, collecting porcelain shoes, working word-find books, giving and receiving hugs, getting her back scratched but most of all, watching her grandchildren compete whether it be in a front yard foot race or who could pick up the most rocks in the garden game or at a horseshow or one of the many athletic events they were involved in. Her family was her pride and joy, and she cherished every moment spent with them, she was known to ‘show up’ even when her health was declining. Bonnie is survived by her husband of 54 years, Freddie Gabbard; daughters Bethany Gabbard and husband Rodney, and Susan Kincaid and husband Frank; and grandchildren Peyton, Trace, Koko, Shania, Zachary and wife Casey, Kristina and husband Ronnie, and Julia, 7 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Bonnie had many friends but two were very special to her, Carol Whitacker and Betty Spencer. She was preceded in death by her parents Tunis and Mary Creech, her in-laws Decoursey and Georgia Gabbard, her sisters Alice Branson and Carol Bechard, her brother Mike Creech and special friend, Sharon Kukuk.
Pallbearers: Earl Gabbard, Rodney Head, Frank Kincaid Jr., Peyton Gabbard, Trace Kincaid, and Koko Kincaid. Honorary Pallbearers: Frank Kincaid Sr. and Everett Marshall.
Services held August 19, 2026 at Newnam Funeral Home. Burial in Big Stamper Cemetery of Lee Co. Newnam in charge of arrangements.
