Opal Davies Obituary

Davies, Opal "Al" Christine

September 19, 1927 - January 24, 2025

Opal Christine "Al" Davies, born on September 19, 1927, in Healdton, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on January 24, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 97.

Opal spent her early years in several towns throughout Southern Oklahoma and Eastern Texas, but eventually settled in Durant, Oklahoma where her father ran the general market. Opal graduated from Durant High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society and the International Thespian Society. Opal obtained her A.A. degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and completed her studies at the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in English and History. Opal remained a life-long O.U. Sooners fan.

In 1952, Opal moved to Tulsa and began working at Shell Oil Company. That same year she met David C. Davies, a recent T.U. Petroleum Engineering graduate. The following year she and David were married, and soon after the couple moved to a small company oil camp in Southern Illinois. While living in Southern Illinois, David and Opal's oldest son, David C. Davies, Jr., was born in nearby Indiana. When David Jr. was 3 years old, the family was relocated to Kansas, where middle son, John Davies was born. Soon after, David and Opal moved back to Tulsa, where youngest son Charles Davies was born.

After moving and settling in Tulsa, Opal was involved in Children's Day Nursey, Easter Seals, Community Chest, the Woolaroc Museum Foundation, and served on the committee planning and preparing for the 1971 International Petroleum Exhibition and the national meeting of the Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission in 1978.

Opal and David spent most of their married lives in Tulsa, however, the oil business did create interesting detours, which included three years living in Santa Barbara, California, as well as several summers living in Caracas, Venezuela. Opal and David enjoyed travel, and their travels took them to the Soviet Union, Europe and throughout South America.

Opal enjoyed playing tennis (with the trophies to prove it!), reading, bridge, garden club, antique club, as well as a variety of other activities with her many wonderful friends. Opal continued playing bridge and especially enjoyed her Saturday afternoon bridge meetings with her Esplanade friends Diane, Sally and Nancy. Opal continued to visit and entertain friends and family, drive, play bridge and live independently up to her brief final illness.

Opal is survived by her three sons: David C. Davies Jr. (Arlene-Suzuki), John L. Davies (Ford Loverin), and Charles H. Davies (Julia Amanda); and her four grandchildren: Cassandra Davies, Cameron Davies, Olivia Davies and Adam Davies. Opal was preceded in death by her husband, David C. Davies, her parents, Roy and Sylvia Hobbs, her brother, William Eugene Hobbs, and her dear friend and companion Joseph Richard "Dick" Hall. The family will hold a Celebration of Life in the near future. Friends may contribute to the American Heart Association, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation or St. Francis Hospital.