Opal Alveida McElroy

Opal A. McElroy, 96, of Terre Haute, Indiana, passed away peacefully on August 29, 2026, in Camby, Indiana. She was born on July 21, 1930, in Blytheville, Arkansas, to Meddie A. and Vera V. (Grey) Brown. A beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, Opal leaves behind a beautiful legacy of love, creativity, strength, and devotion to family.

Throughout her 96 years, Opal witnessed an extraordinary amount of change in the world. Born during the difficult years of the Great Depression, she grew up in a time when life was often simple, challenging, and centered around family. In recent years, Opal began putting some of her memories of those early years down on paper. Through her writing, she was able to preserve stories and experiences from her childhood and share a glimpse into a different time with the generations who followed her. Those memories, and the stories she carried throughout her life, will remain a treasured part of her family's history.

Opal married the love of her life, Jesse McElroy, and together they built a life and a family. Their marriage continued until Jesse's passing in 1974. Although she faced the tremendous loss of her husband, Opal continued forward with the same strength and determination that had defined her throughout her life. Her family remained at the center of her world, and she took great pride in the many generations that grew from the family she and Jesse created.

Opal was a remarkably creative woman who found joy in making beautiful things. She was an accomplished quilter, putting time, patience, and imagination into her work. Each quilt reflected not only her creativity but also the care and love she put into everything she did. She also enjoyed painting, particularly still-life scenes and landscapes, allowing her appreciation for beauty and nature to find another form of expression.

Her love of the outdoors extended beyond painting. Opal enjoyed gardening and working in her yard, and she was proud of taking care of her own lawn well into her 80s. She was independent, hardworking, and never afraid to roll up her sleeves and get something done. Her willingness to remain active and involved in the things she loved was a testament to her strong spirit.

Perhaps one of Opal's greatest joys was simply being surrounded by her family. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. With a family spanning five generations, she had the blessing of watching her family grow and change throughout her long life. The love she gave to them, the memories she created with them, and the stories she shared will continue to live on through each generation.

Opal's family was not simply a part of her life, it was one of the greatest accomplishments of her life. She leaves behind children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who will carry pieces of her with them: in the traditions she passed down, in the stories she told, in the things she taught them, and in the love she showed them. Her quilts, paintings, garden, writings, and countless memories are reminders of a woman who knew the importance of creating something meaningful and leaving something beautiful behind.

Though 96 years is a long life, those who loved Opal will undoubtedly wish they could have had more time. Her absence will be deeply felt, but so too will her presence remain… in family gatherings, in stories shared around the table, in the beauty of a garden, in a carefully made quilt, in a painted landscape, and in the memories of a life well lived.

Opal's life was a testament to the enduring strength of family and the beauty found in the simple things. She experienced hardship and happiness, loss and love, and countless changes across nearly a century. Through it all, she remained a mother, grandmother, artist, gardener, storyteller, and beloved matriarch whose greatest treasure was the family she loved so dearly.

Her hands may no longer tend to the garden, stitch another quilt, or put memories onto paper, but the love she poured into those things, and into her family, will continue for generations to come.

She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever carried in the hearts of the many people whose lives she touched.

Opal was preceded in death by her parents, Meddie A. and Vera V. (Grey) Brown; her beloved husband, Jesse McElroy; her siblings, Juanita Richardson, Meddie A. Brown, and John Brown; and her son, Dennis McElroy.

She is survived by her sons, Ronald (Kathy) McElroy of San Leandro, California, and M. Keith (Rebecca) McElroy of Terre Haute, Indiana; her daughters, Lois (Joe) Manderino of Plainfield, Indiana, Rebecca (Brett) Byers of Scottsburg, Indiana, and Kim (Brad) Mills of Fort Wayne, Indiana; as well as 16 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions can be made to your local Humane Society or any private animal shelters in her honor.

A gathering will be held on Friday, September 4, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Roselawn Funeral Home, 7500 North Clinton Street, Terre Haute, Indiana 47805. A funeral service will immediately follow the gathering. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park.