Opal Easley

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Opal Mae Whitlow White Easley, 88, of Perryville died Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, at Perry County Memorial Hospital.

She was born June 7, 1921, in Glenwood, Mo., daughter of Henry and Ida Johnson Whitlow. She and Merle E. Easley were married April 20, 1964. He preceded her in death Dec. 7, 2002.

Survivors include two sons: Dan (JoAnn) White of Glen Carbon, Ill., Dr. Ken (Ann) White of Perryville; a stepson, Carl Easley of Florida; four grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Willa (Ken) Williams of Bloomsdale, Mo., Pauline White of Kirksville, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Easley was a member of a Baptist church since childhood but has attended First Presbyterian Church since moving to Perryville in 2004.

Opal loved flowers and gardening, and her green thumb produced hundreds of beautiful flowers each year. Her summer vegetable garden provided plenty of fresh food for herself and friends and neighbors.

Opal's roommate was a cat named Sunny and they had lots of conversations each day. Opal's career has covered lots of areas including owning/managing restaurants, being a farm wife, working in a factory, and managing married student housing at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her most favorite "job" was playing with her great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Vernica Timm and Marjorie Hurlbut; brothers Lee, Louie, Henry Jr., and John Whitlow.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to service time Wednesday at Travis Funeral Chapel in LaPlata, Mo.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the chapel. Burial will be in LaPlata Cemetery.

Young and Sons Funeral Home in Perryville is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial preferences are LaPlata Baptist Church, American Heart Association or First Presbyterian Church.