Opal Kirkland

Opal L. Kirkland, age 90, of Claremont, IL, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2014. Opal was born December 27, 1923, in Richland County, IL. She was the daughter of Sherman and Pansy (Albert) Stout. She married Thomas Kirkland on October 6, 1961, and he survives. Opal was a homemaker all of her married life. In her earlier years, she worked at Roberts Insurance Agency in Olney, IL. During the war she earned her teaching certificate from Eastern Illinois University. She taught at various schools in Lawrence and Richland counties. Most of all, she assisted her husband Thomas for many years on the farm. She was a member of the Chauncey Church of God and the Gideon's auxiliary. Preceding Opal in death were her parents, a son Michael Kirkland, four brothers: Ivan Stout, Melvin Stout, George Stout, Wilbur Dean Stout, a sister: Vera Stout, two infant sisters, and a grandson: Cody Rosborough. Along with her husband Thomas, she is survived by two daughters: Debra and her husband Jim Rosborough of Sumner, IL, Donna and her husband Danny Strom of Thomaston, GA, two sisters: Doris and her husband Eugene Hargis of Willow Hill, IL, Carolyn and her husband Don Polk of Olney, IL, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be Saturday at 1:30 pm at the Chauncey Church of God in Chauncey, IL. Visitation will be Saturday from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm at the Sivert-Macey & Steffey Funeral Home in Sumner, IL. Burial will be at the Chauncey Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Chauncey Church of God or to Gideon's International.