BONNYLEE HOBBINS MONTERO
1930-2017
Bonnylee Hobbins Montero went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 8, 2017, after a long and valiant fight with Lewy Body Dementia.
Bonny was born on October 29, 1930, in Aitkin, Minnesota, to the late Patrick and Seretha Hobbins. She graduated from Aitkin High School. Not a native Texan, she moved here as fast as she could with her grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Goslin, and they lived together in the Heights. She worked for the City of Houston Municipal Courts for five years and was invited to join the Houston Police Department by Chief Seber. Females were not allowed to attend the Houston Police Academy in 1953, so she had to study law books on her own and take the exam before being sworn in. She was sworn into HPD as one of the first female officers on November 1, 1953. In 1955, she was the first HPD female officer to have a baby.
Bonny was truly a pioneer for women in policing in Houston and dedicated her life to public service.
Bonny was busy raising her four children when she met and married the love of her life, HPD Sergeant Jim Montero. Three of her four children and two granddaughters went into public service. Her two daughters followed in her footsteps and both joined HPD, married police officers, and are now retired HPD sergeants working as private investigators. Her granddaughter, Elizabeth Scheibe, also joined HPD and proudly wears her grandmother’s badge. Her oldest son is a retired Houston Firefighter and her youngest son a salesman for a construction company helping those affected by Hurricane Harvey. She deeply loved her four children and six grandchildren and sowed valuable wisdom into each of their lives. Bonny was truly a Proverbs 31:10-31 woman as described: “The Virtues of a Noble Woman.”
During her 35-year career with HPD, Bonny served in the Crime Prevention, Juvenile, Crime Analysis, Vice, Community Services and the Homicide Divisions. Her supervisors recognized Bonny’s attention to duty and her tireless work ethic. In 1980, she was awarded “Officer of the Year” in the Investigations Category, by the prestigious 100 Club of Houston for her work in the Vice Division. In 1984, Bonny received the Crime Stoppers of Houston Award for Women in Non-Traditional Occupations. Bonny developed a Crime Analysis system that was utilized by England’s Scotland Yard. Bonny loved being a police officer at the Houston Police Department, and even though her memory was failing she talked about going to work every day until the end of her life.
Bonny was a creative and talented artist in many medias. She enjoyed sketching, painting, leatherwork, gardening and sewing. She loved to laugh and enjoyed life. Bonny looked forward to participating in the Rattlesnake Roundups and tanning rattlesnake skins to make belts and hatbands as gifts. She loved gardening and the outdoors, which inspired her creativity. Bonny was an award-winning cook, earning many blue ribbons for her heavenly desserts that were famous at church bizarres. Bonny loved shopping at resale shops and had a keen eye for spotting treasures. She was truly gifted by God and had a great sense of humor and excelled at everything she put her hand to. Bonny was a loving and faithful member of St. Matthias Catholic Church in Magnolia, TX.
Her loving and dedicated husband, James “Jim” Montero of 46 years, survives her. Jim was her best friend and caretaker. Bonny is also survived by four children: Michele “Shelly” Raney Scheibe, and her husband, Gary, Matt Raney, Janice Raney Hawk and her husband, J.D., and Patrick Raney and his wife, Rebecca. She is also survived by her six grandchildren: Bonnie Richards, Elizabeth Scheibe Woodall and husband, Jonathan, Jessica Scheibe, Travis Orlando, Cody Orlando, Roman Raney and numerous nieces and nephews. Bonny is survived by two sisters from Minnesota, Jeanine Hobbins Hawkins, and husband, George, and Patricia Hobbins Nelson, and husband Vernon. Her sister, Nancy Hobbins Cummings and brother Joseph Hobbins predeceased her. She is survived by her brotherin-law Greg Cummings of Scottsdale, Arizona and Minnesota, and her sisterin-law, Rosalinda Montero Camara and husband George of California.
A memorial in her honor will be held on Friday, September 15, 2017, from 5pm to 7pm at the Klein Funeral Home located at 14711 FM 1488 in Magnolia, Texas, with a vigil from 7pm to 8pm.
A Funeral Mass will be held the following day, Saturday, September 16, 2017, at 10:00 am at St. Matthias Catholic Church located at 302 S. Magnolia Blvd (FM 1774) in Magnolia, Texas, 77355.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army, Texas Children’s Hospital or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.