Bonnie Rae Sandusky

Bonnie Rae (Nason) Sandusky, 76, of Las Vegas, Nevada, entered Heaven on June 25, 2025. After a long, painful battle with cancer that she met with strength and courage, she passed away peacefully, surrounded by family. Her daughter’s hand in hers, she slipped into rest, free from pain at last.

Bonnie had a true hippie heart and soul and carried that free spirit with her throughout her life. She was a mixture of strength, sass, stubbornness and generosity that made her perfectly unique. She lived life on her own terms, never afraid to say what she thought, and she wasn’t afraid of anyone or anything. She loved to make people laugh, and if you have a photo with her, she most likely is giving you the peace sign…..or the bird!

She was the kind of person who was always thinking of others….if she saw something at a garage sale or store that reminded her of you, she would buy it just to make you smile. She would give you her last dollar if you needed it and was always there for the people she loved.

Family was the most important thing to her. She lived her life for her kids and loved them with the her whole heart. She was so proud of her daughter, Carrie Anne, and her son, Russell, was truly her soul mate.

Her siblings were her best friends.

She enjoyed having coffee with her mother, Violet and Sissaro Pam almost every morning and always looked forward to visiting with her sister Vicki and brother Glen often. She spoke to them all almost daily. She also adored all her grand-puppies, who were absolutely obsessed with her.

Her home was filled with photo collages of her favorite memories, each one a testament to the people who mattered most.

Bonnie treasured the friendships she built over her lifetime. She had lifelong friends who were like family to her, along with countless others she met along the way. Those connections were deeply important to her, and she cherished the love, laughter, and memories they shared.

Bonnie worked as a blackjack dealer on and off the Las Vegas Strip for over 42 years. She loved her work family and cherished the connections she formed with her coworkers over the decades. She delighted in surprising her coworkers with outrageous costumes on Halloween that made everyone smile.

Bonnie loved to paint—rocks, wind chimes, her driveway—anything she could turn into something colorful. She had a passion for music and kept an extensive iTunes library, often dancing around to her favorite songs or making mix CDs for anyone going on a road trip. She loved to travel and took many memorable road trips with her sister Pam, stopping along the way to take photos of sunrises and sunsets and collecting colorful leaves wherever they went. On one special trip, her nephew Cody James helped her find the perfect leaf to add to her collection, even though they all turned brown after finally being gathered.

Bonnie is survived by her daughter, Carrie Anne Lewis; her mother, Violet Nason; her sisters, Vicky Burgess (and husband Jack) and Pam Ildefonso; and her brother, Glen Nason (and wife Candy). She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, their children, and five generations of family who loved her deeply. Her extended family back East includes aunts, uncles, and cousins who always held a special place in her heart. She was welcomed into Heaven by her father, Everett (Joe) Nason; her brother, Everett (Joey) Nason; her beloved son, Russell Dean Lewis; nephews, RJ Nason and Billy Nason and her first husband and father of her children, Phillip Ray Lewis who remained a lifelong friend.

Bonnie’s strength, kindness, and unforgettable sassy hippie spirit will live on in the hearts of all who loved her. She leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and generosity that her family and friends will carry forward in the stories they share and the lives she touched. She will be deeply missed and will live forever in our hearts.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025, (time to be determined, please check back for update) at Redemption Church located at 8200 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89117, with a celebration of Bonnie’s life immediately following at the same location. If you wish to honor her memory, please consider wearing a touch of her favorite colors, orange or yellow.