OPAL BARKER

EAST PRAIRIE -- Opal Barker, 88, of East Prairie, died Saturday, Jan. 27, 1996, at the East Prairie Nursing Center.

She was born Feb. 6, 1907, at East Prairie, daughter of William R. "Ren" and Alice C. Elliott Morgan.

She lived her entire life in Mississippi County. She was a retired school teacher, having taught in the rural Mississippi County schools and the East Prairie schools.

She was a member of the Nelson United Methodist Church at East Prairie.

On April 4, 1942, she married Benjamin H. Barker. He died May 9, 1974.

Survivors include a son, Sam Barker of East Prairie; a daughter, Carolyn Smithson of Naples, Fla., a stepdaughter, Mera Ben Bess of St. Louis; four grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several stepgreat-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, a stepdaughter, two stepsons, five sisters, three brothers and a stepgrandchild.

Friends may call after 6 tonight at the Shelby Funeral Home at East Prairie.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Shelby Chapel.

The Rev. Jim Nichols will officiate, with burial in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Charleston.