Opal Z. Rains

Opal (Granny) Z. Rains, 99, passed away at Royalton Manor on Tuesday, February 3, 2009. Friends may call from 5:00 to 8:00 PM Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd. St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 PM Friday at Stevensville United Methodist Church, 5506 Ridge Road, Stevensville, officiated by Rev. B. Gordon Barry, with burial to follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Stevensville United Methodist Church. Friends wishing to send a condolence online may do so at the guestbook at www.starks-menchinger.com. Opal was born on September 2, 1909 to the late Walter and Mahalia (Webb) Storey in Mountain View, Arkansas. She was also raised by a stepmother, Dora E. Storey. She married Bernice L. Rains on March 26, 1926 in Bradford, Arkansas. Opal worked for Dwan/Musselman and retired in 1975. She was a member of the Stevensville United Methodist Church for over 50 years and a lifetime member of the Eastern Star. Granny loved her family and spent most of her 99 years travelling the country to keep in touch with everyone. She was a big sports fan, watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up playing hockey, baseball and soccer. She also touched many lives with the hundreds of afghans she crocheted for her family and friends. She is survived by a daughter June Avery of Stevensville, a son Lloyd Rains of Perry Ga; 18 grandchildren – Lana (Dan) Allan, Donita (Richard) Smith, Rhonda (Brad) Hildebrand, Karen (Jeff) Sager, Chip (Mary Beth) Avery, Michael Rains, Brian (Laura) Allan, Dana (John) Wade, Julee (Marcus) Smucker, Ryan (Natalie) Greer, Larry Rains, Opal Renee Rains, Roxanne (Mikie) May, Beverly (John) Boyd, Rosemary Rains, Linda (Mike) Gleeson, Barbara Roach, and Darlene (Dave) Bohannan; 30 great-grandchildren; and 7 great-great-grandchildren. Opal was preceded in death by her husband Bernice; two daughters, Wilma Rains and Wanda Gothberg; a son Russell Rains; granddaughter Lori Roberts; and six brothers and two sisters.