Opal Mae Hale

Opal Mae Hale, 89, passed Friday morning, October 30, 2009, into the arms of her loving Lord at Parkview Health Care Facility in Bolivar. Opal was the oldest daughter of William Augustus and Jewell M. Chaney Frank. She was born near Adonis, April 9, 1920. She lived her entire life in Polk County, with the exception a few years as a young girl when her family lived in Kansas while her father worked with the railroad. Opal was educated in the county schools, graduating from Adonis. After school, she worked various jobs in Springfield and helped various families in her community with their children. She took Jesus as her savior while helping in the Clifford and Sadie Cribbs home. She joined the Mt. View Missionary Baptist Church at Polk, where she was still a member at her passing. She was a young lady when she helped in the George and Susie Hale family. One day she was at the pump getting water when a car with a good looking young man drove by. The young man saw her, braked, backed up and introduced himself as Chester Hale. Chester asked her out. He then went home and told his parents that he had found the girl he was going to marry. He had a date with another girl that evening. That was the last time he went out with her.. He and Opal went out and soon decided they were meant to be together. They were married in Bolivar, MO by Dr. Courts Redford on May 21, 1938, just months after they had met. There were those who commented that this quick marriage would never last. The marriage lasted over 71 years. In the early years of their marriage, Opal and Chester lived and farmed around Polk and Goodson. In December of 1947, they purchased the store in Huron. They lived in and ran the Hales Grocery and Station for thirty years. In 1977, they sold the store and moved to Fair Play. Chester was the Polk County Assessor at this time. While living there, Opal attended church at the Fair Play Assembly of God. After fifteen years, Chester and Opal moved to Bolivar to the home they shared until Chester became ill. While living there, Opal went back to Huron to attend church at Fairview Methodist Church. Opal was the glue of the family helping in the store raising three children and continuing to serve her God. Opal spent much of her leisure time painting landscapes in oil. She also loved to draw, wrote many poems about life and her family, She loved to read anything from books to articles. Opal also kept a daily diary for over 60 years, writing down the details of her daily life. The saddest day of their marriage came on August 29 of 1941, when they lost their six day old infant Larry Chester. Preceding Opal in death was her husband, Chester, who passed just this last July, her infant son, Larry, her parents, two brothers; Sylvus Frank and Clifford Frank and one sister, Mildred McCoy. Opal is survived by two daughters, Shirley Van Camp and Kay Holt and husband Harold all of Bolivar; and one son Ron Hale of Bolivar. Also her three grandchildren, Scott Van Camp of Jenks, OK; Stephen Holt and wife Rosetta of Reeds Spring, MO; and Sarah Holt of Reeds Spring, MO.; four great-grandchildren-- Spencer, Morgan and Garrett Van Camp of Jenks, OK and Jeremiah Holt of Reeds Spring, MO; two brothers, Livie Frank of Merced, CA and Shelby Frank of Belton, MO and a brother-in-law, Bob McCoy of Hermitage, MO along with several nieces and nephews and many friends. Friends may call after 9:00 AM Monday in the Chapel. A visitation will be held on Monday, November 2, 2009 from 5-7 PM in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 10:30 AM in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. James O. Friend officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. View Cemetery at Polk under the care and the direction of the Butler Funeral Home of Bolivar. Casketbearers will be Stan Mayfield, Clark Hale, Wayne Vest, Justin Warren, Jim Davis and Cliff Frank. Friends may sign the guest book or send private condolences at www.butlerfuneralhome.com PDF Printable Version

Opal Mae Hale

April 9, 1920 - October 30, 2009