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In Memory of
Opal R.
Gwinn
1917 - 2016
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Freeman Mortuary
"We are honored to provide this Book of Memories to the family."
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Debbie A. Hinrichs
"Opal was a very special person and I am privileged to have known her. She was a"
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Amy Rogers
"Opal was a beautiful gentle woman who was a friend to all and grandmother to man"
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Mrs. Sam B. Cook
"I did not know Opal well but knew of her wonderful personality and graciousness."
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Gregg & Mindy Ochoa
"Your smile will be so missed at church!"
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Rev. Leslie Galbreath
"Opal Gwinn took the place of my deceased grandmother. I love her with all my hea"
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The Lewis Family: Jen, Michael, Sean & Addie
"We will miss our "Granny Opal"! OES meetings won't be the same without her. "
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Nancy K. Lane
"Dear Opal has been a vital part of my Rainbow and Eastern Star life for 50 years"
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Kathy Speidel
" We have lost to Saint Granny Opal! I'm already missing you. This world Will ne"
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Obituary for Opal R. Gwinn

Opal R.  Gwinn
Mrs. Opal R. Gwinn, age 98, of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away early Saturday, November 5, 2016 at the home of her niece, Pam Harbison Berry, in Columbia, Mo.

Opal was born November 30, 1917 in Cedar City, Mo. She was the daughter of Frank and Zula Sapp Nichols. On June, 1936, Opal married Earl Richardson and they had a beautiful baby girl named, Beverly Joyce Richardson. Beverly was born and died on the same day, September 22, 1938. Opal married Abner Gwinn at the stroke of midnight, January 1, 1973. The marriage was “pert near a fairy tale come true”, quoting Opal, “It was heaven on earth with Ab”. They had been married 35 years when Abner passed away, at age 104 in 2007.

Opal’s heritage connects her with some interesting community history, e.g. her father Frank was the first businessman on Highway 50 West when it was nothing but a dirt road. She is the lineage of Sapps and Nichols (surnames which comprise half of the population of the Ashland area)! The Nichols brothers were the first landowners in Southern Boone County c. 1830. Historical writing claim the Nichols clan were “a jolly, hospitable folk; many were excellent jig dancers and could make a fiddle talk”. Even in marriage, her husband Abner Gwinn was one of MoDOT’s key engineers who oversaw the development of Missouri State Parks and modern highways, including I-70.

Opal graduated high school in 1935 and in 1963 got an associate degree from Capital Business College. Opal worked many jobs, starting out as an office manager and retailer at JC Penney and Herman’s. She worked many years at McGraw Edison as what today would be titled an executive secretary. Before retiring in 1973 she worked for KRCG primarily as secretary but also as the go-to volunteer to plan parties, greet guests, dust unseen dust, and go before the camera if they needed someone to be silly.

Opal loved God foremost and from that sincerity flowed a love for people, all people: the weak, the rich, the dirty, the poor, the prisoner, the celebrated, and the reject. She chose to believe and see what is best in a person. She was highly committed to the church and an involved member of the First Christian Church. Secondly, she treasured her 75 years of membership and friendship in Victoria Chapter No. 14, Order of the Eastern Star where she engaged in many roles and service. Opal was a member of the Cole County Historical Society and throughout the years she was involved in a variety of civic and church related affairs. A gifted organizer and most gracious hostess, Opal’s life was about giving, acts of mercy and kindness. One of her favorite activities was to visit the sick and those in nursing homes. She was blessed with a cheerful positive disposition, along with a thousand one-liners and a hardy laugh.

Survivors include: many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins and friends adopted as family. To many she was known as “Granny Opal”.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; her infant daughter; two brothers, Kenneth Nichols and Frank Nichols, Jr.; and one sister, Hallene Harbison Nichols.

An Eastern Star service will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 10, 2016 at the First Christian Church in Jefferson City, Mo. under the auspices of the Victoria Chapter, No. 14. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the church with the Reverend Beau Underwood officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the First Christian Church, Victoria Chapter No. 14, Order of the Eastern Star or the Jefferson Lodge, No. 43, A.F. & A.M.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.

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