Rev. Opal L. Conrad

Opal was born May 4, 1925, to Cha-lee-dee (Charlie) Teehee and Nancy (Lyman) Teehee Keener on her family's original allotment near Braggs (now Camp Gruber). She attended Dwight Mission and Chilocco Indian School as a child and earned her GED at age 74. On June 12, 1945, she married Roland Ervin Conrad; they shared 38 years until his death in 1983.

While working at Brockway Glass Company, Opal served on the board of the American Business Women's Association in Muskogee. She retired in 1973, and two years later she answered the call to ministry, becoming pastor of Sellers Mission. As a union steward at Brockway, she made sure her coworkers were treated fairly on earth; as a pastor, she ensured everyone she met had the opportunity to hear about Jesus’ saving grace.

Opal was known for her steadfast faith, humor, and generous spirit. She never gave up on anyone. She was known as Nanny, Aunt Opal and Momma. She loved singing and playing her guitar, gatherings with family especially during Christmas, visits to Fin and Feather Resort, sundown-to-sunup gospel singings, and gospel quartet concerts.

She is survived by her grandchildren: Billie Drywater Fain and husband Jack of Chewey; Suzanne Drywater of Tahlequah; Vincent Blair and Becky Asbil of Chewey; and Roland Cole of Tahlequah.

Great-grandchildren: Jacqueline Fain Allen and husband Kenneth of Panama City, Florida; Anson Fain and wife Jaime of Augusta, Georgia; Jonathan Fain and wife Alyssa of Chewey; Jodie Hayes Rainwater and husband Kyle of Tahlequah; Benjamin Seif Drywater of Chicago, Illinois; Josef Drywater and wife Chloe of Tahlequah; Cassilyn Drywater Coger and husband TJ of Hollister, Missouri; Sarah Drywater Bond and husband Christopher of Park Hill; Kenny Drywater Jr. and wife Kathy of Glenpool; Nathan Blair and Elizabeth Rose of Tahlequah; Kristian Kinsey Schnitzer and husband Brandon of Tahlequah; and Kiersten Blair, Tyler Cole, and Jacob Cole, all of Tahlequah.

Great-great-grandchildren: Andrew Fain and wife Emily of Glendale, Arizona; Constance Fain of Augusta, Georgia; Kayla Allen and Tiffany Allen, both of Panama City, Florida; Keena Fain and Jackson Fain, both of Chewey; Eli Rainwater and Silas Rainwater, both of Tahlequah; Ophelia Drywater of Tahlequah; Lovelyn Coger of Hollister, Missouri; Lily Bond and fiancé Tanner Rinehart of Panama City, Florida; Laila Bond of Park Hill; Delilah Drywater, Kenny Drywater III, Devin Lynch, and Sydney Lynch, all of Glenpool; Bailor Schnitzer and Brayden Schnitzer of Tahlequah.

Great-great-great-granddaughter: Oaklyn Rinehart of Panama City, Florida.

She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Roland Ervin Conrad; daughter Mary Josephine Conrad Cole; grandson Kenny Ray Drywater; brothers Shelby Sanders, Raymond Charles, and David Charles; and sisters Viola Sanders Conrad, Lorraine Charles Bruso, and Susie Charles.

Visitation will be October 8, 2026, at Reed-Culver Funeral Home in Tahlequah 4:00–7:00 p.m. for the public. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on October 9 at Generations Church, 3229 S. Muskogee Ave., Tahlequah, with Pastor Jonathan Fain officiating. Interment will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Fort Gibson National Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Josef Drywater, Kenneth Allen, Seif Drywater, Kyle Rainwater, Anson Fain, Nathan Blair, Chris Bond, Kenny Drywater Jr., TJ Coger, and Brandon Schnitzer, with honorary pallbearers Jack Fain, Rod Cole, Vincent Blair, Jacob Carey, and Tyler Cole.

A mighty prayer warrior, Opal carried the needs of others to the Lord with love, offering comfort and hope to all who knew her. Her faith, her prayers, and the love she so freely gave will shine on through the generations she leaves behind.