Opal Irene Stewart-Sexton

Services will take place at a later date.

Survivors include her husband, Curtis; one son, Gene Stewart of Glade Park; four daughters, Susie Craft of Craig, Sharon Martin, and Tuleen Brown, both of Hillsboro, Oregon, and Mary Noose of Fruita; 14 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions to HopeWest, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81506.

Opal Irene Oyres was born January 3, 1923, to A. L. Oyres and Olive Josephine Rose in Hertshorn, Oklahoma. She passed away on May 7, 2016. She was the youngest of seven children. In 1927 the family moved to Fruita.

In 1940 Opal married Gene C. Stewart in Moab, and they moved to the Redlands in 1945. They lived their entire married life in the Redlands and Grand Junction area, except for one year in North Carolina during WWII. To this union were born five children: Susie Craft of Craig, Gene (Loretta) of Glade Park, Sharon (Don) Martin and Tuleen (Jerry) Brown, both of Hillsboro, Oregon, and Mary (Tony) Noose of Fruita, all of whom survive her. They also had 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. Gene preceded her in death in November of 1993. Also preceding her in death were one granddaughter, Jenny Steele Trover; her brother, Paul Oyres; her sister, Olive Oyres Tucker; and four half-brothers, Walter, Chester, Bob, and Roy Oglesby.

Opal was a lifelong member of the First Church of the Nazarene and was very involved in the children’s ministries and in music. Opal was known for her beautiful singing voice. She enjoyed oil painting, knitting, crocheting, gardening, fishing, camping, and especially her roses. She loved and appreciated all of God’s beauty.

In October of 2000 Opal married Curtis Sexton, whom she had met at the Nazarene Church, and acquired four stepchildren, Ada Seal, Robert, Mark, and David Section, and ten step-grandchildren. Curtis and Opal were praised for their singing at church. They enjoyed spending time together in the outdoors and were heavily involved with the church during their time together.

A memorial service will be held at the First Church of the Nazarene located at 2802 Patterson Road on June 6 at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, Opal requested donations be giving to the children’s department at the Nazarene Church.