Artist and longtime Midland resident Jean Bonnell Posey, 91, passed away on Monday, June 1, 2015. She was born in Fort Bayard, New Mexico to Wayne E Bonnell and Nell Anderson Bonnell. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where she spent her childhood. She graduated from Fort Dodge High School in 1942. Before attending college, she worked as a newspaper reporter in Fort Dodge. Jean attended Iowa State University, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Textiles and Clothing in 1948.After college she moved to Amarillo, Texas to work and live with family. During that time, through relatives she was introduced to Amarillo native Don Posey. They married in June of 1951. During the early years of their marriage, they lived in Amarillo and Ames, Iowa, and Jean worked as a legal secretary while Don attended graduate school. As a young geologist, Don’s work moved them frequently to many cities including Flagstaff, Arizona, and Oklahoma City. Finally Shell Oil brought them permanently to Midland in 1956.Jean became active in the Midland arts community as their children grew and started school. During this time she developed and began to pursue an interest in pottery. She also worked as secretary at The Museum of the Southwest for several years. As her pottery work flourished the family converted the garage into an art studio, and she taught short courses at Midland College and exhibited and sold her work through galleries and art fairs. Jean co-founded the small arts collective Tumbleweed Artists with fellow Midlanders Mary Griffith, Dorothy Peterson and Mae Chappell. Later in her career her work shifted from pottery to a focus in fiber arts, weaving wall hangings and occasionally combining both media.She was very active in the Midland Arts Association, later serving as its president. Later, she was Executive Director of Arts Assembly of Midland (now Arts Council of Midland) for four years. She was instrumental in launching the first years of Midland’s Celebration of the Arts festival, one of Midland’s longest running arts events.In addition to her lifelong passion for the arts she was an avid reader of suspense novels, and worked in constant pursuit of the perfect flowers for her garden. She and Don frequently traveled to New Mexico and Southern Colorado as they shared a strong appreciation of Southwestern art and Native American history and culture. She was a warmhearted, empathetic person, described by many as a true lady. In addition to family, she is survived by her countless works of art.Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 63 years, and her siblings Dorothy Bonnell Stulberg and Jack Bonnell. She is survived by her two children, Richard Posey of Grapevine, TX and Susan Posey Bergener and her husband Stephen Bergener of Katy, TX along with four grandchildren, Kendall Posey, Robyn Posey, Ellen Bergener and Freddie Bergener, numerous nieces and nephews, and Don’s sister Doris Ellis.Private family services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable donations be made to Hospice of Midland.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.,
