Bonita Jo "Bonnie" (Bousum) Patmore

Bonita Jo "Bonnie" Patmore, 78, Kokomo, passed away at 8:15 am Monday, October 27, 2025, at Community Howard Regional Health in Kokomo.  Born on July 28, 1947, in Kokomo, she was the daughter of the late Ralph Earl and Dora Catherine (Fuller) Bousum.  She was previously married to Raymond James Karp Jr.  On September 17, 1976, she married Larry Patmore who preceded her in death on March 25, 2007.

Bonnie graduated from Kokomo High School in 1965 and began working at Delco.  However, she felt the urge to serve her country and proudly served in the United States Marines.  She was honorably discharged in August 1968. After the service, Bonnie returned to Delco and dedicated 31 years working before her retirement.   During her time at Delco she attended Indiana University Kokomo, making the Dean’s List.  After being retired for about 2 years she decided to work part-time at North Woods Commons, where her husband Larry was employed.  She worked in the office, hosted movie night for the residents and became a person who cared about each of them.

Bonnie was a member of Family Worship Center in Kokomo, the church where several family members also attended.  Bonnie was the “tom-boy” of her sisters.  She considered herself a “Daddy’s girl”.  Athletic and tall, Bonnie would compete against her brothers and her Burlington cousins.  She had a passion for family genealogy, researching newspapers, documents and travelling to various locations to acquire information about her ancestors.   She loved various forms of music including 1950s and 60s oldies, the Gaithers, and Irish folk tunes and shared those songs with others.  Bonnie enjoyed watching TV shows that displayed people’s talents like "Dancing with the Stars" and "The Voice" and was an avid viewer of YouTube videos and true crime shows.

When she was young, Bonnie was the leader (or instigator) of many fun activities with her siblings, such as learning songs together in a funny way, having food fights and generally making life entertaining and wonderful. These traits she brought into the lives of her children and grandchildren creating many fun and unforgettable memories with them.  The apple of her eyes were her children and her grandchildren she referred to as the “Fab Five”.  Bonnie made friends easily in the Marines, at work, and in the neighborhood and they began a lifelong relationship with her.  For many years, after her mom passed away, she organized and all the women of the family to celebrate her mother’s life by meeting together, having fun by being silly and enjoying themselves as the “Oonie Oonie Chapter of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”.  Loving being with her family, siblings and relatives, she organized annual Christmas parties and family reunions.  Bonnie was fiercely protective of her children, grandchildren and siblings, watching over the family. Bonnie was adventuresome, once spending weeks with her sister Joy traveling throughout the United States and writing about her travels, calling it her “Westward Ho” experience.

Bonnie loved to tell others about events in her life and wrote well over 100 short stories about herself and family, posting many of them on Facebook for friends to enjoy.  Known for her unrivaled wit and unfiltered honesty, Bonnie created humor and thought-provoking comments. 

She is survived by her children, Angele (David) Leyda, Raymond "Jay" Karp, Aimee (Aaron) Keiper, and Jon "Andy" Patmore; grandchildren, Matthew Leyda, Nathan Leyda, Hannah Keiper, Benjamin Leyda, and Noah Keiper; siblings, Constance Absher, Joy Ammerman, James Bousum, Timothy Bousum, Garry Bousum, Patrick Bousum, Starr Petty, and Jon Bousum; along with numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and loving sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Larry Patmore; and siblings, Ralph E. Bousum Jr., Barry S. Bousum, and William R. Bousum.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am  Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at Family Worship Center, 1149 E. Center Road, Kokomo, with Pastor James Bradley officiating.  Burial will follow in Albright Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4-8 pm on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the church. Memorial contributions may be made in Bonnie's memory to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, at mda.org. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements. 

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