© Tammie Chada

Bessie Opal (Roberts) Shadwick

© Shurden Funeral Home

Jan. 31, 2008

Submitted by: Becky Rodgers

Bessie Opal (Roberts) Shadwick
Aug. 29, 1913 - Jan. 28, 2008
Services: Thursday Jan. 31, 2008

Bessie Opal (Roberts) Shadwick, age 94, passed away, Monday, January 28, 2008 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. She was born August 29, 1913 in Appleton, Conway County, Arkansas, to Joe Arch and Nona (Andrews) Roberts. Her elementary school years were in Arkansas. She completed her school education in Council Hill, Oklahoma. She married the love of her life, Jay Shadwick, on June 7, 1943, in Boynton, Oklahoma.

Bess loved her family and friends with an unconditional love, but most of all she loved her Savior. Her life was all about pleasing her Lord. During her childhood years she had the privilege of riding to church in a wagon. She attended church in Boynton, and then in 1946, she and her husband moved to Weleetka, Oklahoma, and joined the Weleetka Assembly of God Church where they had many wonderful years of service.

Bess taught the Juniors Girls’ Class for many years and also worked with the Christ Ambassadors youth Group both in Boynton and Weleetka. She retired from teaching in May of 1985 at the age of 72, and was presented a plaque for 49 years of service in the Weleetka Church. She moved to a Retirement Center in Wetumka in August 2000.

She loved Christian music. She enjoyed singing in a quartet with her sisters as they ministered through song to many audiences. One sister, Pearlene, a talented pianist and organist, especially encouraged Bessie with her music.

Later in life when she could not attend church as much as she liked, TV ministries would bless her. She was a blessing not only to her family and church, but also to her neighbors and friends who came by often to ask her to pray for them. She also used every opportunity to witness to the people in town. Her life-long goal was to be a blessing to others.

Bess didn’t have children of her own, so she just claimed all the nieces and nephews as her kids. (And they loved it!)

She was preceded in death by: her husband of 41 years, Jay Shadwick, her father, Joe Arch Roberts, her mother, Nona Lanora Roberts, her brother, Lester Roberts, her four sisters, Ruth Harper, Marie Hamm, Elizabeth Allred, and Pearlene Franklin. Also by a niece: Naomi Olsan.

She is survived by one brother in law: Rev. Cecil Franklin and wife Lucy and many nieces and nephews, which include: Thelma Jo Jones, Geneva Hearn, Jim Roberts, Bill Roberts, Phillip Roberts, Helen Pride, Faye Pride, Anna Wilson, Martha Harmon, Rachel Bess, David Hamm, Charles Allred, James Allred, Ron Allred, Raymond Franklin, & Bob Franklin, as well as countless friends.

Mrs. Shadwick’s nephews will serve as pallbearers.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the Weleetka Assembly of God Church, Thursday, January 31, 2008. Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery in Muskogee, Oklahoma under direction of Shurden Funeral Home.

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