Opal Marie Harris (Tillery) of Elmore City, Oklahoma was born to John Marcus and Lizzie Arvella (Chennault) on October 31, 1937, in Antioch, Oklahoma and passed from this life on June 27, 2026, in Sulphur, Oklahoma at the age of 88.
Opal grew up and attended schools at Davis, Satterwhite, and Elmore City. She helped on the family farm by pulling cotton, hoeing corn, and picking up pecans. At the age of 16, she married her cowboy sweetheart Vester (Sonny) Harris on January 23, 1954, where they shared 71 years together before his passing in September of 2025 and raised 3 daughters.
Opal had many talents and hobbies. She was an accomplished seamstress making her young daughters beautiful dresses and clothes. One of the ways Opal expressed her love was by cooking and baking. She loved making her family's favorite dishes. She made delicious chocolate and coconut pies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, hot rolls for Sunday dinners, and wonderful holiday meals. She had a lifelong love of reading, classic movies, and music.
Family was of the upmost importance to Opal. She was a beloved mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She would often say she would fight a tiger to protect her children or grandchildren, and none of us doubted it!
Opal was a member of Satterwhite Missionary Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School, VBS, and sang many beautiful songs. She spent many hours reading and studying her Bible, and loved sharing her faith with others, and offering encouragement to those in need. She had a kind, caring, and compassionate heart for others.
Opal worked for the Southern Oklahoma Nutrition Program as an outreach worker for the elderly for 28 years before her retirement in 2011.
Mrs. Harris is survived by daughters: Vicky Shelton, of Elmore City; Sherri Harris, of Elmore City; and Amy Gwilt, and husband Mick of Highland California; Granddaughter, Lacey Helvey and husband Clay of Elmore City; Grandsons, Dustin Harris of Wynnewood, Oklahoma; and Carson Gwilt of Highland California; Great-grandchildren, Ryley Mathis, Shayley Mathis, Averi Harris, Mac Helvey, and Cheyenne Helvey.
Mrs. Harris was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Vester (Sonny) Harris; Brothers, Ralph, Vernon, and Roy Gene Tillery; Sisters, Venita "Nete" Murphy, Irene "Didd" Simco, and Donna Johnston.
Services for Opal will be on Monday, July 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Wooster Funeral Home Chapel in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma with interment to follow at Elmore City Cemetery. Visitation for Opal will be on Sunday, July 5, 2026 from 1:00 to 6:00 P.M. with family to accept friends from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. If you would like to send your condolences to the family you may do so at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com