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Opal Olive Paist August 10, 1923 -July 7, 2009

Opal Olive Paist, 85, daughter of Nelson and Maggie (Corll) Smith was born August 10, 1923 in Decatur county, Iowa and passed away July 7, 2009 in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

On January 2, 1941 Opal and Howard Paist were united in marriage in Bethany, Missouri. To this union three daughters were born.  Opal was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and a faithful member of Community of Christ Church. Opal enjoyed sewing and cooking, especially her oatmeal raisin cookies. Before becoming a LPN she worked at Real Style Dress Shop, was a cook at Mount Ayr schools and was a nurse at Ringgold County Hospital. 

She is preceded in death by her husband Howard; parents; six brothers and sisters, Robert Smith, Francis Smith, Dorothy Bohall, Floyd Smith, Alva Smith and Lloyd Smith. 

Survivors include three daughters, Merylin Gayle (Leland) Sickels of Easton, Faye (Robert) Eckert of Saint Joseph, MO and Alice Margaret (William) Matthews of Des Moines, Iowa; one brother, Harold Ralph Smith of Lamoni, Iowa; one sister, Pearl Walter of Leon, Iowa; one sister-in-law, June Smith; five grandchildren, Shelly Keller, Melissa Powell, Benjamin Eckert, Joseph Matthews and Raymond Matthews, and nine great-grandchildren, Patrick and Zackrey Keller, Christopher and Nickolas Powell, Tyshell Eckert and Huntur, Mason, Georgia Kate and Sophia Matthews.

A memorial service was held Friday, July 10, at Bram-Turner Funeral Home in Stewartsville. Inurnment will be at Elk Chapel Cemetery, Decatur county, at a later date. Opal’s body was cremated under direction of Bram-Turner Funeral Home, Stewartsville. 

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