Avis de décès de Opal-Lee-Keys Anderson - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

ANDERSON, Opal Lee Keys ofMontgomery entered her eternal rest on January 2, 2007, following a courageous andgrace-filled battle with cancerwhich she endured for over thirteen years. Opal is survived byher husband of 53 years, Dr.Harold L. Anderson. Opal isalso survived by six children,nineteen grandchildren andtheir spouses, namely : JamesAnderson of Montgomery andhis children Jesse Anderson (Lacey), Marjorie Anderson andAnna Anderson; Susan Anderson Wren (Gregory) of Montgomery and her children Rach'l Wren Lindmark (Peter),Christa Wren and CatherineWren (fiancee, Dustin Roberts);Ralph Anderson (Sally) of Birmingham and his childrenThomas Anderson and Brian C.Anderson; Charles Anderson(Linda) of Montgomery and hischildren Roscoe Anderson,Charles Anderson, Jr., SterlingAnderson and Brian M. Anderson; Martha Anderson DeWitt(Kent) of Louisville, Kentucky,and her children Jacob DeWitt,Joy Beth DeWitt and HannahDeWitt; and Joy Anderson Jager (James) of Birmingham andher children Rosemary Jager,Ruth Jager, Caroline Jager andVirginia Jager. Other survivors include threebrothers and one sister: MarvinKeys (Erma) of Louisville, Kentucky, Cosby Keys (Charlene)of Louisville, Kentucky, JamesKeys of Fulton, Kentucky, andEunice Keys Stanley of Shasta,California. Additional survivorsare brother-in-law Donald Anderson (Louvene) of Huntsville;sisters-in-law Betty Gibbons(Homer) of Montgomery andCarol Anderson of Prattville;along with dozens of niecesand nephews and innumerable friends. Opal was preceded in deathby her parents, Charles Roscoeand Anna Eula Keys of Breckenridge County, Kentucky, twobrothers, Van Buren Keys andLester Keys and her daughter-in-law Susan Blalock Anderson. Opal was born in Breckenridge County, Kentucky, onSeptember 17, 1932. With child-like faith, she made a publicprofession of Jesus Christ as herpersonal Lord and Savior in August 1938 at Dry Valley BaptistChurch near Mystic, Kentucky,and was baptized in a rockquarry pond. She graduatedfrom Anchorage High School inAnchorage, Kentucky, in 1950.Opal then graduated in 1953from the Kentucky Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Louisville. It was while she attendednursing school in Louisville thatshe met and married Harold,who was then a student at theSouthern Baptist TheologicalSeminary. Opal's vocation as a registered nurse was a ministry of loveand service. Her career in nursing spanned six decades. Hertenure on the staff at BaptistMedical Center of Montgomery began with the initialgroundbreaking of the hospitalin 1962. Opal retired from fulltime nursing in 1997 after manyyears in the position of night supervisor, but continued to servepart time until her health prevented her from nursing workany further in 2005. Her longevity as a staff nurse at BaptistMedical Center is unequaled.In 2004 her career of service tothe nursing profession was recognized by the Medical Society of Montgomery Countywhen she was named the PamWolfe R.N. Service Award recipient. Opal's devotion to nursingwas surpassed by her passionfor Christian service in the lifeand community of RidgecrestBaptist Church and her supportof Christian mission workaround the world. She taughtchildren's Sunday School andVacation Bible School formany years. Most recently sheled a senior adult ladies' class.She also served actively in theWomen's Missionary Union andwas a member of the Sanctuary Choir at Ridgecrest. Together with Harold, Opal hostedmany groups of Christian pilgrims on tours of the Holy Landand visited many corners of theglobe. Her travels always included visits and encouragement to career missionaries inthe field. Annually, she coordinated efforts for Samaritan'sPurse - Operation ChristmasChild. Above all else, Opal was awife, mother and ""Grandma"".Her life of love and devotion insupport of Harold's ministry withthe Alabama Baptist State Convention was a rock solid foundation for him. Raising six children was accomplished withtender care and firm discipline.Her role as ""Grandma"" was performed with perfection, as allnineteen grand kids will attest.In her ""spare time"" she mastered the crafts of quilting, embroidery and other needlework. Her handiwork pieces willbe cherished for generations.Opal loved spreading the table for family gatherings, oftenloud and confusing, but alwaysmet with smiles and hugs. WithOpal as the cornerstone, theAnderson family was recognized by The Montgomery Advertiser and the Family Guidance Center as ""Family of theYear"" in 1994. The funeral service will be acelebration of her life for theglory of God and will be heldin the sanctuary at RidgecrestBaptist Church, 5260 VaughnRoad, at 11:00 AM on Saturday,January 6, 2007 with Dr. Michael Cassity and Dr. MickeyCastleberry officiating. Pallbearers will be Don Williamson,Gene Johnson, Tommy Ratliffe,Randy Williams, Tyson Thompson, Wylie Rohan, Rick Taft andRay Williams. The family will receive friends at Leak-MemoryFuneral Home from 6:00 PM -8:00 PM on Friday, January 5,2007. Mrs. Anderson will lie instate one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Memorialcontributions may be made tothe Lottie Moon Christmas Offering supporting the work ofthe International Mission Boardof the Southern Baptist Convention, c/o Ridgecrest BaptistChurch. Leak-Memory Chapel Directing