Opal Jean Leech
Opal Jean Leech
Opal Jean Leech, gained her angel wings and left this earth Jan. 26, 2021, at the age of 87. She was born Oct. 7,1933, to Henry and Rosella (Reimers) Thiems on their farm west of Okarche. She was the seventh of nine children.
Opal graduated from Kingfisher High School in May,1951. She married the love of her life, Gene Leech, July 6, 1951, in Piggot, Ark. Together they raised four daughters, Linda, Diana, Janice and Carolyn. They were married 42 years before his death April 28, 2004.
The couple first lived in Glenview, Ill., where Gene was stationed in the U.S. Navy. After Gene’s discharge from the Navy the couple moved to Salem, Ore., then back to Oklahoma to Stillwater, Blackwell and finally settling in Kingfisher.
Opal was a stay at home mom babysitting, selling Tupperware and Avon. She then entered the workforce as a receptionist for Dr. Jerry Mitchell, DVM, and later for Dr. Roy McDonald, OD. Her final working career was at Pioneer Telephone Cooperative. She retired in March 1990.
During retirement she and Gene spent 11 summers in Oregon and Alaska where she fished, canned and made quilts for her family. She volunteered at Kingfisher Regional Hospital as a “Pink Lady” and also traveled to China, Italy and Ireland with Dr A.J. Johnson’s group and various short trips with the Baptist and Christian Churches.
Opal was a great seamstress, sewing clothes for herself and her four daughters. She was also an excellent cook and spoiled her husband and family with delicious meals!
Opal was baptized and confirmed in St. John’s Lutheran Church, Okarche, and later joined the Church of the Nazarene. She was a Christian influence on her family and would take her great grandchildren to church and then go for ice cream. She loved her ice cream!
She is survived by her brothers, Henry Thiems of Yukon and Oscar (Peggy) Thiems of Kingfisher; sister in law LaVon Thiems of Roseburg, Ore.; her children Linda (Nick) Westfahl, Diana (Lary) Helt, Janice (Dick) Russell and Carolyn (Roland) Mulherin all of Kingfisher; eight grandchildren Brian (Margo) Sigl, Desiree (Chad) Smith, Jaime (Robby) Pool, Laine (Jasper) Merritt, Lincoln (Whitney) Mulherin, Lindsay (Jason) Lack, Candice (Chris) McIlvain all of Kingfisher and Lauren (Chase) Matson of Yulee, Fla; 23 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family.
Opal was preceded in deathby her husband, Gene, her grandson, Derrick Sigl, her parents, in-laws Wib and Thelma Leech; siblings, Charlie, Leslie (Maxine) , John, Gertrude (Glenn) Hansberry, Earl (Bernadine), Ruby (Don)Hill and sister in law, Wanda Thiems and Maxine (Harold) Taylor.
Memorials may be made to Russell Murray Hospice 2001 Parkview Dr. El Reno OK 73036, Kingfisher Food Bank 124 W. Erwin Ave. Kingfisher, OK 73750, Meals On Wheels 201 S. 6th St. Kingfisher, OK 73750.
Her family would like to thank the staff of St Katharine’s Drexel Assisted Living and Kate’s Cottage for the love and care they have given to our mom these past three years.
The love you had for her truly touched our hearts and carried her through this past year’s Covid lockdown. We also want to thank the Nurses at Russell-Murray Hospice for their great care these last 2 months.
Services were held at the Church of the Nazarene, Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, at 2 p.m. under the direction of Sanders Funeral Service.