Bonnie Mae Buckley Maldonado, 95, a resident of Silver City New Mexico, passed away in her home surrounded by family on June 23, 2026. She was born in Choteau, Montana to Patrick T. Buckley and Dorothy Aman Buckley. Her early childhood was spent on the Blarney Castle Ranch, the Buckley family ranch seven miles west of Sweet Grass. The family's loss of their beloved ranch in a 1937 foreclosure was a trauma that echoed down the generations and would later figure in Bonnie's poetry. Education was central to Bonnie's life. She earned an Associate of Arts from the Territorial College of Guam in 1959, while teaching first grade in an experimental bilingual program. A year later she was enrolled at New Mexico Western College (now WNMU) in Silver City, receiving her MS in elementary education with minors in social science, art, and English in 1961. That fall she became seventh and eighth grade supervisor at Western's Teacher Education Center. Soon after that school closed in 1972, Bonnie served as a graduate assistant in the Department of Educational Psychology at New Mexico State University while completing her PhD. She began university-level teaching as an instructor in the Western New Mexico University Department of Education and Psychology in the fall of 1972; she would retire as dean of the same department. Bonnie served for many years as a professor of counseling and was credited with revitalizing the Education department. Bonnie was named to the WNMU Education Hall of Fame. She had an incalculable impact on thousands of students across her many years as an educator.
Bonnie's boundless empathy, especially for women, children, and minorities, led her to start many initiatives to address social needs in the Silver City region. She helped organize a Community Mental Health Council and initiated a rape crisis center, was clinical director for a juvenile first Offenders program, and co-founded El Refugio, a domestic violence shelter. She was appointed to state commissions on higher education and criminal justice and in 1998 was inducted into the New Mexico Women's Hall of Fame for her contributions to the people of New Mexico.
A creative and prolific poet, Bonnie believed that poetry provided a window into the lives of the people and spirit of the American West that prose simply could not. She founded the Southwest Festival of the Written Word (now the Southwest Word Fiesta) and actively served on its governing board. She was named Silver City's inaugural Poet Laureate in 2011, the same year she won the WILLA Literary Award for poetry from Women Writing the West. Across her career she published five collections of poetry and a family history. Bonnie never stopped writing, and she continued composing new poems into the very last moment of her passing; great struggle and incredible periods of joy. Bonnie had many accomplishments and passions throughout her life, but she treasured her family above all else. She had many titles, but none was more important to her than the nickname her grandchildren and great grandchildren bestowed upon her: Ama. Ama, you touched the lives of everyone around you and inspired us to never stop reaching for new heights. You will be missed by all who knew you.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Librado Maldonado, brothers Patrick Buckley, Michael Buckley, and Jerry Buckley, her sons, Floyd Marriage and Dennis Marriage, and grandchildren, Patrick Lucas Marriage and Kathryn Sophia Silva.
She is survived by her daughter, Bridget Sakells (Dean), grandchildren, Shayne Marriage (Shauna Lovorn), Joseph Silva (Araceli Saldana), Lauren Silva, great-grandsons, Rodrigo Silva and Bobby Lovorn.
Cremation has taken place and her ashes will be scattered according to her wishes. A celebration of Bonnie's life will be held in the near future.
Cremation has taken place at Terrazas Crematory. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory "Trusted care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.
