Opal Smithee

Opal Smithee, age 95 of Batesville died Saturday, November 15, 2008 at the Batesville Healthcare Center in Batesville. She was born April 23, 1913 at Shelbyville, Arkansas to Frank and Sarah Jane (Milligan) Lackey. She waroked and took care of her family on the farm until moving to Batesville in 1969 where she worked for Arkansas Poultry. She enjoyed cooking, gardening and sewing. She was a member of the 20th Street Missionary Baptist Church in Batesville. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Alpheus Lackey and Ottis Lackey and two sisters, Annie Turner and Maudie Lackey.Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Talmage Smithee of Batesville, one son, Bobby Smithee of Batesville, one daughter, Sharon Gardner of Arkadelphia, one grandson, Jonathan Gardner of Knoxville, Tennessee, four granddaughters, Monica Buxton of Russellville, Andrea Kelly of Cabot, Julie Shelby of Bryant and Karen Williams of Canton, Georgia, eight great grandchildren several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.Funeral services will begin Monday, November 17, 2008 ay 2:00 p.m. at the Qualls Batesville Funeral Service Chapel in Batesville with Bro. Grayden Milligan officiating. Burial will follow in the Milligan Campground Cemetery located near Strawberry with arrangements by Qualls Batesville Funeral Service of Batesville.Visitation will be Monday, November 17, 2008 from 12:30 until service time.Pallbearers will be Jonathan Gardner, Junior Smithee, Chris Buxton, Eric Shelby, Nathan Shelby and Mike Lakey.