Opal Dee Miller's Obituary
Opal Dee was born on April 29, 1926, in Hazelton, Kansas. Her parents Harvey Arik May and Eva Lucinda (Tucker) May were wheat farmers. She was the 5th of 7 children, and was baptized by her older brother, Atwell May, a Baptist minister. Opal Dee was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Atwell, Ray, Gale and Donald, sisters Louella Mason and Almena Guthrey. She has a living sister-in-law, Mrs. Ray May (Amelia) of Kennewick WA, and many nephews and nieces.
The family bought a new car the year Opal Dee was born; she liked to think it was to celebrate her birth. She lived in three different states: Kansas, Oklahoma and Oregon. Opal Dee said Kansas had the best schools. The family moved to Oregon in 1939, they settled at Estacada, later moving to Eagle Creek. The reason for the move was WWII. Brother Ray enlisted in the Marine Corp. January 1942. There was a demand of shipyard workers and her father rode in a bus to Portland and back for 3 years to the shipyard, they were building ‘Liberty’ ships.
Opal Dee married Kenton Miller in 1943, her high school sweetheart. Kent knew he was to be drafted soon so he too enlisted in the Marine Corp, in 1943. He served in the Pacific Campaign. Kent was wounded twice, Pelilu Island and later on Okinawa Island. Daughter, Sherry, was born in 1944 while he was overseas. She was 17 months old when Kent first saw her. Son, Gary, was born in 1946.
Opal Dee leaves two children, three grandchildren, and six great grandchildren: Son, Gary Miller, wife Diane (Prothero) of Battle Ground Washington. Grandson, Jeff Miller, wife April of Yacolt, Washington, great grandchildren Ellie and Emily. Granddaughter, Jennifer (Miller) Dorris, husband Duncan of Seattle, Washington, great grandchildren Addy and Grace. Daughter, Sherry (Miller) Thornberry, husband Jay passed July 2021, of Scappoose, Oregon. Granddaughter, Stacy (Thornberry) Salladay, husband Aaron of Junction City, Oregon, great grandchildren Jared Jay Thornberry of Portland Oregon and Jaxon.
Opal Dee’s husband, Kent, of 47 years of marriage, died November 1990, they lived in Hermiston Oregon. In 1993 Opal married Hugh Timmel; they lived in The Dalles Oregon until 2008, when they moved to Scappoose, Oregon, to be near children. Hugh had four children: daughter Leslie Bloxtin (deceased), son Brad Timmel (Karon) of Oregon City, Oregon, son Jerry Timmel (Mary) of Tucson Arizona, daughter Becky (Mike) Dagg of Apache Junction Arizona. Hugh had many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Hugh passed July 2015.
Opal Dee liked to garden, canning vegetables, fruit, jam and pickles. She enjoyed quilting, sewing a quilt for each member of her family, kids, grandkids and great grandchildren. She also made clothing for her family. Her husband, Kent, did not want Opal to work outside the home until the children were grown. In 1962 she went to work in the Hermiston Drug Store, in the music department. She was employed there for 33 years.
Opal Dee will be laid to rest in Hermiston Cemetery.
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