Opal May Blair

Opal May Blair, a resident of Longview, Texas, and formerly of Goodwine, Illinois passed away Wednesday, January 20, 2010 surrounded by her family concluding a courageous three year battle against multiplemyeloma. Opal leaves behind a legacy of fond memories, a strong family and smiles.
Opal was born on March 22, 1923 in Virginia, the eldest daughter of Frances Kay and Alpha Compton Elliott. She moved to Central Illinois with her family at the age of ten.
On March 13, 1940, she married W. M. Blair (Butch) in Virginia and they made their home on the Blair farm in Butler Twp, Vermilion Co., Illinois. In 1948 they moved to Goodwine IL. Opal and Butch purchased the general store and they continued to farm, operate the store, and she served as postmaster. Opal continued ass postmaster until she retired 1983. In 1999 they moved to Southern Texas for the warmer winters. Butch was the center of her life for 68 years and Goodwine and Central Illinois was always home.
Opal was very active in the Goodwine Community. She enjoyed her church, playing any kind of game, gardening and all kinds of craft and needle work projects. However, above all of these things was her total devotion to her family. Opal's main interest at any time was in the lives of her children and the activities of her siblings. Opal loved being a sister, a mom, and a grandma to her six brothers and three sisters, three children, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchidlren.
Opal is survived by her son, William M. Blair Jr. (Bill) and wife Katherine of Longview, Texas, her two daughters, Laura Ann Miller of Gibson City, Illinois and Joyce Blair Brock and husband John of East Jordan, Michigan; three grandsons: Edwin A. Miller of Gibson City, Illinois, Eric J. Brock (Yvette) of Bolingbrook, Illinois and William M. Blair III of Longview, Texas; two granddaughters: Karen Brock Reed (Steven) of Tinley Park, Illinois and Wendy Blair Markowitz (James) of Longview, Texas; five great-grandsons and four-great-granddaughters.
Opal is also survived by two brothers: Gordon L. Elliott (Marie) and A. Jack Elliott (Geraldine) of Watseka, Illinois, three sisters, Mary M. Hill, and L. Faye Elliott of Watseka, Illinois, and Joanne R. Rogers (William) of Terre Haute, Indiana, two sisters-in-law: Norma Elliott, and Joan Elliott and many nieces and nephews.
Opal is preceded in death by her husband William (Butch) Blair, her son-in-law, James E. Miller, her parents, four brothers: Cecil A. Elliott, James M. Elliott, Frances K. Elliott Jr., and Scott C. Elliott, one brother-in-law, Lester Hill, and two sisters-in-law, Elsie Elliott and Ruth Elliott.
The family would especially like to say "Thank You" to Mrs. Laura Wilson for the love and devotion she displayed in her care of both Opal and Butch in the last years of their lives.
A memorial service celebrating Opal's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday January 25, 2010 at the Goodwine Methodist Church, Goodwine, Illinois 60939. Pastor Jeff Elliott will officiate. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 24, 2010 at the Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park, Illinois.
Internment will be at East Lynn Cemetery, East Lynn, Illinois.
Friends wishing to honor Opal's memory with a charitable contribution are asked to consider the Goodwine Methodist Church.
Arrangements are in the care of Knapp Funeral Home, Cissna Park, Illinois.
Please sign the guestbook at knappfuneralhomes.com.