Opal Rebecca Redshaw

OPAL REBECCA REDSHAW Funeral services for Opal Rebecca Redshaw, formerly of Ucolo, Utah will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 12 at the Dove Creek First United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery at Eastland, Utah. Opal was born on October 16, 1930 in Safford, Ariz. to Floyd Rex Kuykendall and Velma Amelia (Kelly) Kuykendall. She passed away on April 6, 2006 in Phoenix Ariz., following a battle with cancer, surrounded by her close and loving family. Opal was 75 years old. She graduated from Durango High School in 1949 as the top student in her class. Opal moved to Summit Point with her family and met H.W. Redshaw at a box supper dance there at Summit Point. H.W. had to pay dearly for her company that night. They married on April 15, 1950 in Cortez, Colo. with James and Bernice Barry as witnesses. They made their home at Ucolo on the farm and ranch. Two children, Esther Jeanne and Richard Rex were born to their union. Opal began working for the Bureau of Land Management in 1961 beginning as an administrative secretary and becoming a Realty Specialist. After her day job she was a very active partner in the farm/ranch operation. Following the death of H.W. in 1977, Opal moved to the Phoenix area in 1982. She found her dream home in New River (an octagon on a hill) in 1985. Opal retired from the B.L.M. in 1986 and earned her private real estate license and worked with a consulting company needing expertise in both government and private real estate issues. She loved her grand kids, cooking, staying busy, her dogs, and feeding and enjoying wild birds. She also thoroughly enjoyed her neighbors, having company, baking, and trying to garden in the desert. Opal was a long time member of First United Methodist Church of Dove Creek and participated in Pioneer United Methodist Church in New River, Ariz. She was looking forward to being a great grandma although she already was a “great” Granny. She was very independent. The grandkids loved going to Granny’s for good food and a good “talk” too. Surviving Opal are her daughter, Esther Jeanne of Fowler, Colo.; son, Richard and wife, Joi of Ucolo, Utah; grandchildren, Amie Fowler and husband, Mark of Phoenix, Ariz., Jeremy Redshaw and wife, Tarah of Ucolo, and Alyssa Tate and husband, Chance of Arriola; sisters, Flossie Dicken and husband, Cleve of Dove Creek, and Esther Summers of Oklahoma; brother, John and wife, Angela of Cortez; and numerous other relatives and many friends. Preceding Opal in death were her husband, Herbert Walter (HW) in 1977; sisters, Barbara and Bertha Kuykendall; and her brother Stanley Kuykendall. The family requests that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church of Dove Creek, The American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.