OPAL BELLE BROWN

Opal Belle Brown, age 87, a former resident of Garnett, Kansas, more recently of Fort Scott, died Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at the Medicalodge of Fort Scott.

She was born March 27, 1921, in Longton, Kan., the daughter of David Franklin Dunbar and Fannie Shanks Dunbar. She married James T. Brown on Sept. 18, 1937, at Sedan, Kan. He preceded her in death on Jan. 5, 1994.

In her earlier years, she worked as a waitress at both Goldie's Café and Kramer's Café in Garnett. She later worked for several years as a clerk at the grocery store in Garnett. She enjoyed gardening and loved her chocolates.

Survivors include two daughters: Geneva Grace Minor and husband, Bob, St. Joseph, Mo.; and Joyce Maria Meech and husband, Bill, Fort Scott. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, eight step-great-grandchildren, 11 step-great-great-grandchildren and three step-great-great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, Doris Ann Shoemaker, four brothers and two sisters.

Pastor Jim Casselman will conduct funeral services at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 14, 2009, at the Feuerborn Funeral Home in Garnett, Kan.

Burial will follow in the Garnett City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, at the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel in Fort Scott.

Memorials are suggested to the Children's Mercy Hospital and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kan., 66701.

Words of sympathy may be emailed to the family at condolences@cheneywitt.com.