Opal Christine DePriest, the daughter of the late Earl and Dorothy (Nichols) Goodman, was born in Oregon County, Missouri, on January 10, 1932. She passed away on November 30, 2021, at Cedarhurst Senior Living in West Plains, Missouri.
Opal was raised in the Thomasville, Missouri area and graduated from Thomasville High School in 1950. She married Junior E. DePriest on August 14, 1951, and they had six children. Junior preceded Opal in death on July 26, 1999.
Opal and Junior lived at the Shannon/Oregon County line on highway 99 all their married life. Junior started a trucking company with one flatbed truck hauling lumber from place to place. The trucking company evolved into the Junior E. DePriest Trucking Company in which Opal was the driving force behind the dispatching of drivers and maintenance of company records. In addition to the trucking business, Junior and Opal farmed cattle and she was also the manager and overseer of the farming business while Junior was away driving. Her phone and typewriter stayed “busy, busy, busy,” as she would say, during those days. Opal was an early riser and hard worker. She believed in “making hay while the sun was shining.”
Opal’s relationship with the Lord began at an early age when Junior’s father, W.G. DePriest, pastor of the County Line Pentecostal Church provided transportation to the church on his flatbed truck. She always claimed that she rode in the cab front seat. She eventually became a regular member of the same church where she grew in faith and dedication to the Lord Jesus Christ. Her faith was relentless. She instilled her faith and love of Jesus in her children and grandchildren.
Opal enjoyed music and singing. She loved to hear her children play and sing in church and around her piano in her living room. Her children and grandchildren have many wonderful memories with her there.
Opal is survived by six children, Paul DePriest and wife, Marcelina of Winona, MO, Debra Cypert and husband, David of Conway, AR, Terry Morrow and husband, John of Birch Tree, MO, Robin Cope and husband, Gary of West Plains, MO, Tracy Reed and husband Tim of Birch Tree, MO, and Leslie Montgomery and husband, Garel of Thomasville, MO; fifteen grandchildren, Jereme DePriest of Springfield, MO, David Lynn Cypert Jr. and wife, Nicole of Conway, AR, Lindsay Ledgerwood and husband, Doug of North Little Rock, AR, Natalie Cypert of Conway, AR, Whitney Orchard and husband, Matthew of West Plains, MO, Josh Clennon of Springfield, MO, Courtney Hughes and husband, Jason, Jordan Hughes and husband, Josh, all of West Plains, Missouri, Jed Montgomery, Evin Montgomery, and Jon Montgomery all of Thomasville, MO; sixteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one brother, Forrest Goodman and wife, Doris of Hopkinsville, KY; one brother-in-law, Millard DePriest of Louisville, MS; one sister-in-law, Vera Hitt and husband, Carlton, of Birch Tree, MO; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Junior DePriest; her parents Earl and Dottie Goodman; two sisters, Earlene DePriest and Beverly Smotherman; and one great-grandson, J.D. Ledgerwood.
Memorial contributions may be made to: The County Line Pentecostal Church, c/o Marilyn Blunkall, 9143 Tulip Street, Birch Tree, MO. 65438
Funeral services will be held December 3, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at County Line Pentecostal Church with Pastor Rick Binkley and Lynn Cypert speaking, under the direction of Yarber Mortuary, Birch Tree, Missouri. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 12:00 Noon-2:00 p.m., also at the church. Interment will be in Bethlehem Cemetery, Birch Tree, Missouri. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.
