With her family at her side, Opal Maxine Jameson peacefully entered into heaven on September 4, 2012 in Manteca, CA, joining her husband of fifty years.  She was born on August 3, 1919 in Adaza, Iowa to the late Arthur and Florence McCain.  Opal recently celebrated her  93rd birthday.

She was preceded in death  by her sister Oma Harrison, daughter Glenda Jo White, granddaughter Debra Jo Kisling, and infant great granddaughter Kasaundra Marie Atnip.  Opal is survived by her three daughters, Linda Riggs (Doug) of Modesto, Donna Preston (Steve) of Manteca, and Willa Duncan of Oakdale.  She was blessed with nine grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.

Opal was an amazing woman and family was everything to her.  She adored her four daughters and was truly an example of unconditional love.  Her many grandchildren gave her great joy.  She so enjoyed all of our big family get-togethers full of chaos, laughter, and love.  Opal loved the Lord, and was a woman of strong Christian faith.  She had been a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church for many years where she had many dear and wonderful friends.  She was very active in the church, participating in Wranglers, united Methodist Women, and the Dinner Belles.  She was also a long-time volunteer at the church’s nearly new thrift store until this past July.

After moving to Manteca in 1960, Opal was employed various places, including Tracy Defense Depot, from which she retired.  However, she always maintained that her most important job was always as a wife, mother, and homemaker.  She loved cooking and sewing, and excelled at both.  she loved to travel, and she and her daughters enjoyed many wonderful adventures on “girl trips” to various places including the beach, the theater, and several cruises.  Opal inspired her family to embrace the values that she held dear, faith in a higher power, the importance of forgiveness, strength in adversity, love, laughter, and the importance of family.

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 11:00am at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Manteca, California.  A private interment at Parkview Cemetery will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made St. Paul’s United Methodist Church at 910 E. North St., Manteca, CA 95336 or the Second Harvest Food Bank 133 N. Grant Ave. Manteca, CA 95336.

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012