Opal Lorene Asher Lewis

Our dear Opal Lorene Asher Lewis, lovingly known as ‘Mema’ by family and friends, finished her long and precious life with us on September 13, 2017. Good health and happiness were hers until very recently. Last month, she and her husband, Delmar Henry Lewis, celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary gathered with family at the Taylor Care Center in Jacksonville, FL. Opal was born in Elvins, MO in 1922, the oldest daughter of Albert Leo Asher and Edith Matilda Dunn Asher. She met Delmar in school in Annapolis, MO, and they were married in 1941. While Delmar served his country as a US Marine during WWII, Opal helped the war effort, too. She worked at Standard Parachute and later at Ryan Aircraft as a riveter in San Diego, CA, where their son, Delmar Leon was born. Following the war, the family moved to St. Louis, MO where their daughter Sharon was born. After a few years of civilian life, Delmar joined the US Army. This resulted in many interesting moves. One of the more unusual tours was living for two years in Asmara, Eritrea, East Africa. While there, Opal was thrilled but terrified to be chosen queen of the military ball. That honor came with opening the ball’s first dance with the base commander. Opal didn’t know how to dance! But with her typical can-do spirit, the Opal we know and love completed it with bravado and smiles. This tour also provided the opportunity for Opal to travel to Jerusalem, an experience that she treasured. The family also did two tours at Fort Myer in Arlington, VA, where Opal worked at Sears in the credit department.Winter ice and snows in Northern Virginia motivated Opal to move the family to Jacksonville, FL in the early 1960s and she transferred to Sears downtown on Bay Street. When she and Delmar both retired, they bought a ceramic shop as a creative outlet and a business venture. Family members still treasure the ceramics they made.Opal loved holidays, especially Christmas. She collected Santa Claus decorations and made many beautiful ornaments. Opal and Delmar bought five acres south of Green Cove Springs, cleared the land and made their home there. Now Opal had space for twenty-two decorated Christmas trees, both indoors and outdoors, of various sizes and enjoyed continuing her tradition of large gatherings of family and friends.She was offered an ideal job at NAS Jax passing out LadyCom military coupon magazines at the Commissary. Over those 23 years, her smile and kind words endeared her to many shoppers. Opal liked to garden, growing vegetables, fruits, flowers and plants. She made delicious blueberry cobblers from their own berries. Opal was a member of Women’s Club of Green Cove Springs and of the Clay County Historical Society. She also volunteered at the Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs and the Clay County Historical Museum. Opal loved participating in the Clay County Fair, making old-fashioned lye soap which she cut into small bars to give to the fair’s visitors. She loved all things Irish and Scottish, especially the annual Northeast Florida Scottish Highland Games at the Fairgrounds in Green Cove Springs.Opal was a happy, loving and devoted wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She was preceded in death by parents Edith and Leo, brother Leo Junior and sisters Wilma Dale and Mary Lou. She is survived by her husband, Delmar; son, Del Lewis (Pat); daughter, Sharon Woodill (Ken); grandchildren Michelle Black, Monica Lewis, Scott Woodill and Kendra Sorensen; great grandchildren Alexander, Sophie and Trevor Black; Jonas Woodill; Ellie, Hannah and Rose Sorensen; her sister, Gloria Jean Asher Grayum (Richard) and many wonderful nieces and nephews.We will continue Opal’s tradition of gathering family and friends by celebrating her life with a family dinner to share memories, laughter, tears, tales, and hugs.