Opal Baker Fulkerson

Opal Mankin Baker Fulkerson, 95, of Scottsbluff, died July 19, 2008 at Emerald Court. Cremation was held at Sunset Memorial Park Crematory. Her memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 24, 2008 at The WestWay Christian Church in Scottsbluff. Opal was born March 5, 1913 in Ridgeway, Harrison County, Missouri, the only daughter of Adrian and Alice Amy (Barnes) Mankin. The family moved to their homestead south of Gillette, WY in 1920, where Opal grew up with five brothers. After graduation from Gillette High School, Opal worked at a medical clinic where she met her first husband, Dr. Ellis E. Baker. Dr. Ellis and Opal were married on Christmas Day, 1934. They moved to Scottsbluff in 1940, where they became active in Dr. Ellis and Paul Baker’s Medical Practice, and in subsequent years, The Church at Bryant Christian Church, and Platte Valley Bible College. Opal lived with Dr. Ellis in Mesa, AZ from 1972 until 1976, when Dr. Ellis died. Four years later, Opal married a former friend from Gillette High School, James Fulkerson. Opal and Jim lived in Mesa until the spring of 2004 when they moved to Scottsbluff. Opal was a charter member of the Church at Bryant Christian Church in Scottsbluff, the Apache Junction Christian Church in Mesa, AZ, and the Broadway Christian Church also in Mesa, where she was instrumental in land acquisition for their building. Opal was preceded in death by Dr. Ellis E. Baker in 1976, and by James Fulkerson in 2005, and by her five brothers, Charlie, Roy, Lee, John, and Buster Mankin. Opal and her dedication to serving God through serving others will be sorely missed by many – especially her children and their spouses: Jim and Eloise Cook of Broomfield, CO, Duane and Julia Baker of Lincoln, EN, Alice Jean Edwards of Tacoma, WA and David and Ruth Baker of Stevensville, MT. Opal is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.