Opal Stum Obituary

Opal Marie Clouston was born in Ness City, Kansas, October 14, 1910. Her parents were Orley Lee and Ola Belle Jessee Clouston. Opal spent her early childhood on a part of the original homestead of her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James Wiley Clouston.

Opal's early education was at the Schoharie School. She graduated from the Ness City High School in 1928. Opal developed an early love for horses and had her own pony at the age of two.

Opal worked at the telephone office after graduation. In October after her eighteenth birthday, she passed an examination enabling her to receive a teaching certificate. Beginning in January 1929, Opal substituted at the Nonchalanta School for a friend who was ill. Opal taught two terms at the Riverside School from 1929 through 1931. Following this she taught third grade in the Ness City School for two years. Opal attended three years of summer school at Ft. Hays State College in Hays, Kansas.

On May 25, 1933 Opal was married to ElRoy Elmer Stum at the First Baptist parsonage at Ness City, Kansas, by the late Rev. Henry B. Bondurant.

Opal attended Sunday school and church in Ness City. Later Opal became a member of the Presbyterian Church. Then Opal joined the First Baptist Church, where she attended faithfully and was a Sunday school teacher until moving to Colorado in 1947.

Three children were born to Opal and ElRoy while they lived in Kansas: Theolyn Glee, Verlyn Dee and Merlyn ElRoy. The Stum family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado where they became members of the First Baptist Church there on November 1, 1947.

Opal was a devoted member of her church. She also served as President of the Maizeland 4H Club executive board and was also a member of the Maizeland Extension Club.

In June of 1966 ElRoy and Opal moved to a ranch near Hugo, Colorado. They resided there for twenty years, spending many winters in New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico. They resided in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico since 1986.

Opal was preceded in death by her parents; her 4 brothers: Jessee, Laurel, Don and Dale Clouston; and her husband, ElRoy.

Surviving are her daughter Theolyn and her husband David Wilson of Silver Spring, MD; sons Verlyn and wife Barbara in Colorado Springs, CO and Merlyn and wife Charlette of the ranch in Hugo, CO; ten granddaughters; three grandsons; 26 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 8 at Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 11, at Shrine of Remembrance "America the Beautiful" Chapel. Entombment will be at Shrine of Remembrance Mausoleum.



In lieu of flowers, memorials in Opal's name may be made to Lincoln Community Hospital and Care Center, Hugo Volunteer Fire Company, or the charity of your choice.

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