Opal Tallent

Mary Opal Tallent, 91, of Jackson died Wednesday, April 20, 2005, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Feb. 6, 1914, at Millersville, daughter of Given Owen and Radie Catherine Niswonger. She and Willie M. Tallent were married Nov. 1, 1939. He died Oct. 18, 1996.

Tallent was a 1932 graduate of Jackson High School. She had worked at International Shoe Co. in Jackson and was food service director for Jackson School District.

She was the oldest living member of First Baptist Church in Jackson, had been a Sunday school teacher, and was president of Women's Missionary Union. Tallent served on numerous committees with Cape Girardeau Baptist Association, was a cook at Peaceful Valley Baptist Camp, and was a member of West Side Homemakers Club and Jackson Garden Club.

Survivors include three daughters, Mary Hill of Lawson, Mo., Margaret Morgan of Scopus, Mo., Martha Reitmeyer of Louisville, Ky.; two brothers, Glenn Niswonger of Jackson, Woody Niswonger of Cape Girardeau; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a stepgrandson.

She was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.

Friends may call at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home in Jackson from 4 to 8 p.m. today.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, with the Revs. Rocky Tallent and Carter Frey officiating. Burial will be in Cook Cemetery at Scopus.