Opal Turner

Opal Jean Turner was born February 2, 1941. Opal is the first-born daughter of Woodrow and Ruth Simmons.

Opal was born in Menifee, Arkansas and moved to McCrory, Arkansas when she was 10 years old. Opal completed her secondary education in 1957. Although Opal was raised in the Baptist church, she became a baptized witness of Jehovah in 1972. Since that time, her dedication and her spirit to her faith was obvious to everyone. Opal was hard-working and worked several jobs in her lifetime but her job at Bethlehem steel is where she retired from after 35 years of work. 

 Opal departed this life on October 30, 2022. She was preceded in death by both of her parents: Ruth and Woodrow Simmons. Also preceding her in death was her grandson Kareem Turner, brother James Simmons, sister Ruby Kittrell. 

  She leaves to mourn her loving memories: 4 children James T. Turner of Honolulu, Hawaii; Donna Turner of Michigan City, Indiana; Charles (Ada) Turner of Portage, Indiana; and Anthony (Tessa) Turner of West Lafayette Indiana; Opal has 5 surviving siblings: Mary “Hattie” Cotton of Michigan City, Indiana; Marilyn  (Henry) Poindexter of Augusta, Arkansas; Paul (Chris) Simmons of Detroit, Michigan; Kin (Dale) Simmons Xuxa of Orlando, Florida; and Jacqueline Poole of Augusta, Arkansas; Opal has 7 surviving grandchildren: Celena Spears, Opal “Michelle” Spears, Anthony “Michael” Turner, Charles “CJ” Turner Jr., Karen Lewis, Aimee Faust, and Logan Turner. Opal left behind many great- grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins and friends. She will be dearly missed.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Friday, November 11, 2022 at The Kingdom Hall 660 Warnke Rd. Michigan City, Indiana 46360 at 1pm Viewing will be 12 noon until time of service. Burial to follow immediately after service at Swan Lake Memorial Gardens. 

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