Opal Mae Collins Downs

© Cheyenne Star

03 Mar 2011

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

Opal Mae Collins was born September 29, 1914 in Gary, Texas to Katie B. and Willie Yancy Collins. She passed away February 26, 2011 at Sayre, Oklahoma at the age of 96 years, 4 months and 27 days.

As a young child, Opal moved with her parents to Hammon, Oklahoma where she grew up on a farm during her childhood. Opal was the oldest of six siblings and had a hand in raising them after her mother passed away.

She was married to Bert A. Downs at Elk City, Oklahoma on March 24, 1935.

After her marriage, they owned and operated the local dry cleaning business and also did clothing alterations. In 1952, she opened Opal's Shop in downtown Hammon where she carried dry goods, continued to do alterations and sewed for the public while Bert operated a T.V. and radio repair shop in the back of the building. Opal continued to run her shop until they moved to Sayre in 1972 when they helped run the Downs Mobile Home Park and Bert continued to run a T.V. and radio repair business.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one infant daughter, Bertie Mae; and three sisters, Nellie Pittman, Bernice Bishop and Elta Jones; and two brothers, David Collins and Melvin Collins.

She is survived by her one son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Rebecca Downs of Peoria, Arizona; five grandchildren, DeAun Ivester and husband, Tom of Sayre, Oklahoma; Daina Butler and husband, Judd of Windsor, Colorado; Elena Brown and husband, Richard of Lawton, Oklahoma; Daniel Downs of Pratt, Kansas; Elisha Froetschner and husband, Adam of Kinsley, Kansas; fifteen great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

Services will be held Friday, March 4, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Rose Chapel officiated by Rev. Margo Vestal. Burial will be at Red Hill Cemetery, Hammon, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma that same day at 2:00 p.m. under the direction of Rose Chapel Funeral Service.

Condolences can be made online at www.whineryfs.com.