Opal Purkett

Visitation: Friday, October 24, 2008 from 10:00am to 6:00pm with family receiving friends from 4:00pm to 6:00pm in the chapel of Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Forsyth.

Funeral Service:Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 11:00am in the chapel of Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Forsyth.

Interment will follow in the Forsyth Cemetery.

Opal Louise Purkett, age 86, of Forsyth passed away on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at the Rosebud Health Care Center in Forsyth.

Opal was born October 9, 1922 the daughter of Mark and Ethel (Fawcett) Eayrs in Opheim, Montana. She was raised on the family farm and attended schools in Opheim and Glasgow. She was united in marriage to Jim Purkett on June 17, 1940. To this union two boys, James Duane and Wayne Darwin were born. Together they raised their children in Forsyth. Opal spent her time taking care of her boys and truly enjoyed attending their activities and being a stay at home mom. They later divorced and Opal went to work at the Forsyth Elementary School Cafeeteria and then onto the Rosebud Health Care Center where she retired.

Opal was active in the community and was a member of the VFW Auxiliary. She had a zest for life and loved to laugh. She also loved working in her flower and vegetable gardens, baking, cooking, crocheting, babies, dancing and time spent with family and friends. She liked music and would entertain her grandchildren and the Nursing Home residents and staff with her singing and yodeling. She liked to follow her children, grandchildren and great grandchildrens sporting events whether it be attending, listening to the broadcast on the radio or taking clippings out of the newspaper.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her two sons, Duane and Darwin; her brothers Chet, Bob, Dutch and Chuck Eayrs; her sisters, Maxine Rasmussen and Blanche Thomas; her sister-in-law Mary Eayrs; brothers-in-law Oren Thomas and Clarence Rasmussen; niece Joyce Hutton and her dear friends Kay and Benny Berdahl.She is survived by her daughter-in-law Nancy Purkett of Forsyth; her grandchildren, Darin (Kristine) Purkett of Forsyth, Darci (Donald) Saeman of Glendive, David Schafer and Dan Schafer of San Antonio, Texas, Danae (Rian) Pinkerton of Forsyth, Dalen (Wendy) Purkett of Livingston, Christopher Purkett and BreAnn Beals of Missoula and Josh (Amber) Purkett of San Antonio, Texas; her great grandchildren, Darien, Dalaney, Dannon, Joshua, Dawson, Danner, Davin, Daley, Damon, Daysa, Decker and Addyson. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.