Opal M. Bryan

The light of our lives has gone out only to be replaced by a bright new star in the heavens. Opal M. Bryan (Nee Allen) passed away at the age of 93 years on April 12, 2015, at the McGraw Center for Caring in Jacksonville, Florida. Our Scotch-Irish lass was born in Paris, Kentucky on October 22, 1921, to her parents, Jessie Logan and Marye L. (Nee Adams) Allen. She grew up the next to the youngest with her seven siblings, Evelyn, Logan, Kenneth, Robert, John, Roger and Roy and her beloved niece, Betty. She followed her sister, Evelyn, to Hollywood, Florida in the late forties, where she met and married her veteran sailor, Daniel H. Bryan, to whom she was married for over 66 years. An outgoing people person, she proudly made her living as a waitress at some of the “classiest” restaurants in South Florida. Her hard earned money was dedicated to extras for her children, who were her pride and joy and an occasional bet on the horses or dogs. In retirement, she moved to Palm Valley, Florida where she made new friends. Playing bingo, traveling (especially camping with her grandchildren and cruising) and family get-togethers became her new passions.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Daniel; her brother Roy Allen (Louise); her daughter, Linda Bryan (Steve O’Neal), and her son, Daniel Bryan, Jr.; her grandchildren, Shelley O’Neal, Bryan O’Neal, Lisa Bryan and Jennifer Deeter (Rick); her great-grandchildren, Robert Robinson, Kascen Deeter, Kamden Deeter and Kaiya Canar and her very special friends, Janie Howard, Cindy McNeish, Lecy Muse and Judy Pino.

As she wished, she has gone home to be with loved ones and friends, for whom she longed, leaving us with heavy but grateful hearts for all the years with which we were blessed. Her strength was an inspiration.

A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Beaches Chapel by Hardage-Giddens located 1701 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 (904) 249-2374 She would be pleased if you honored her with a donation to the McGraw Center for Caring or your favorite charity. Our heartfelt thanks to the McGraw staff for their care, love and concern.