OPAL FAYE SOUDER SHAHAN, age 83 years, a resident of the Pifer Mountain Community, St. George, WV, went home to be with our Lord, Sunday July 25th, 2010, surrounded by her family at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.
She was born Tuesday, February 15, 1927 at Coffeyville, KS, a daughter of the late William Albert and Flossie Marie Wilcox Souder. In 1944, she worked at Walgreen Drug Store at Coffeyville, KS, where she met her future husband, who was stationed at the Coffeyville Air Base with the United States Army. On February 17, 1944, she was united in marriage to Dorsey “Jake” Shahan, who survives. Together, they had celebrated sixty six and a half years of marriage.
Also surviving are five daughters, Sharon Kaye Kidwell and husband Dick of Parsons, Wilma Marie Hershman and husband Alfred of St. Ignace, MI, Peggy Ann Evans and husband Danny of St. George, Doris Jean Kisamore and husband Neil of St. George, Linda Faye Sherman and husband Ernest “Mac” of Parsons; one son, William Floyd “Bill” Shahan and wife Barb of St. George. She was the proud grandmother of sixteen grandchildren, thirty great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.
She is the last surviving member of her immediate family having been preceded in death by one daughter, Roberta Maye Auvil; one brother, Robert Souder; two sisters, Wilma Sapp and Norma Zellers.
She attended the schools of Coffeyville, KS, where she received an award from the Governor for her penmanship. She attended the Union Chapel United Methodist Church. She worked as a cook for the Tucker County Board of Education for many years, as well as many summer camps. She loved to sew, but most of all, she loved to spend time with her family and listen to them sing.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons on Wednesday from 5 to 8 PM. Final rites will be conducted at the funeral home parlor Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 2PM. Rev. Pat Cassidy will officiate and interment will follow at the Pifer Mountain Cemetery at St. George.
