Opal Mae Gearhart, age 83 of 7390 24.75 Lane Gladstone, MI died Thursday morning May 6, 2004 at the Christian Park Health Care Center in Escanaba where she was a patient. Opal was born July 6, 1920 in Charlotte, MI the daughter of Ola and Clara (Harmon) Uhl. She was raised in Charlotte and was a 1939 graduate of Charlotte High School. Following graduation she worked at the Bliss Factory in Hastings, MI during WWII. She was united in marriage to John W. Gearhart on December 11, 1949 in Angola, Indiana and they made their residence in Nashville, MI. While they lived in Nashville, Opal worked at the Eaton County Bank in Charlotte. They moved to Nahma Township from Nashville in 1956. Together they owned and operated the Nahma Junction Cedar Cabin Sport Shop. They retired in 1975.
Education was important to Opal and she served on the Nahma School Board during the consolidation of the Cooks, Garden and Nahma Schools into Bay De Noc Schools. She continued to serve on the Bay De Noc School Board and was the Business Manager for several years for Bay De Noc Schools.
She loved to travel and camp and enjoyed spending time at their camp on Davey’s Lake. Her hobbies included crocheting, knitting and making all kinds of crafts. While spending winters in Florida she did volunteer work as a “Rocker” for orphaned babies in the Pediatric Neo-Natal Unit.
Survivors include:
1 Daughter: Neola Gereau of Gladstone
2 Step Sons: Richard Gearhart of Gladston; David (Marilyn) Gearhart of Lansing, MI
1 Brother: Orlo (Patricia) Uhl of Rossville, GA.
1 Sister: Wilma (Earl) Bargy of Vermontville, MI
7 Grandchildren: Eugene (Michele) Gearhart of Oakland, CA; Kenneth (Kim) Gearhart of Idaho; Robert Gearhart of Las Vegas, NV; Becky (Pat) Quinn of Gladstone, MI; Jennifer (Gary) Kessinger of OshKosh, WI; Brian (Tracy) Gearhart of Eaton Rapids, MI; Kelly (Ric) Maldanado of Lansing, MI
14 Great Grandchildren
Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by: Husband: John W. Gearhart on September 26, 200 Brother: Willard “Bud” Uhl on February 12, 2001
Opal’s family will receive friends on Monday from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Funeral services celebrating the life of Opal Mae Gearhart will follow at 11:00 A.M. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Burial will follow at Fernwood Cemetery in Gladstone.