Opal M. Coakley

Opal M. (King) Coakley, age 103, of Arapahoe, Nebraska passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Beaver City Manor, in Beaver City, Nebraska. She was born on September 4, 1920, in Wabaunsee County, near Alma, Kansas to George Levi and Ethel Mae (Allen) King. 

The family moved from there to Wyoming, South Dakota, Utah, and California, and then to Franklin, Nebraska. She attended the 3rd grade there, 4th grade at country school southeast of Franklin, and the 5th & 6th grade in Oxford, Nebraska and then the 7th & 8th in Franklin, finishing high school years in Naponee and graduating with the class of 1938.

On September 25, 1938, she married Lowell T. R. Coakley in Harrisburg, Nebraska and they lived in Scottsbluff for a year, and then moved to Denver, Colorado where L.T. was employed in floor covering. Two sons were born in Denver: Roger Lowell, March 1, 1940, and Walter Joe, September 28, 1942.

On April 1, 1943, the family moved to Naponee, Nebraska to farm with her stepfather, Ed C. Mullaly. Following Ed’s death, November 7, 1943, the Coakley’s moved north of Alma, Nebraska to farm with Bill Richards for one year. March of 1945, they moved to the Aten farm (now Christensen) west of Oxford. They lived there for 23 years and continued to farm the land after they purchased and moved to the Jochem farm (now Fisher) on Highway 6 & 34 on Turkey Creek. They lived there until L.T.’s death, August 6, 1987. April of 1988, Opal moved their little house to Edison, to be near her church and her work at the Farmers and Merchants Bank, now First Central Bank. She retired from the bank after 31 years of service, November 2, 1996. She moved to Arapahoe in 1998. She enjoyed her church work, traveling, & volunteer work. She was baptized at an early age and again in the Republican River in August 1995 by Pastor Ken Breinig.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Husband L.T. Coakley, son Joe on January 4, 2011, great-Grandson Jonathan Lowell Loughry, May 1988, Stepfather Ed C. Mullaly, November 1943, brother Donald, June 25, 1993, sister Barbara Maxine, December 27, 2002.

She is survived by her son: Roger (Darla) Coakley, Daughter-In-Law Cathy Coakley, Grandchildren: Joanna (Jim), Joey (Ann Susan), Brad (Vickie), Cris (Eric), 14 Great-Grandsons and 1 great-granddaughter, and many nieces & nephews, cousins, and 2nd cousins.