Obituary of Opal McGee

~~Opal Ester Flippo McGee, 90, passed peacefully on August 15, 2017, with her loving daughter, Lucy, by her side.  She was born in the Weeden Heights community of Lauderdale County to Rufus Nathaniel and Cora Gladys (Robnett) Flippo on January 19, 1927, surrounded by a very large and loving family.

Opal enjoyed a variety of things including cooking, sewing, writing poetry, gardening and canning the fruits and vegetables from her own garden, keeping her grandchildren, and doting on her cat; rare was there an animal or baby she didn’t love to cuddle. To some, she was “Opal”, to others “Mother”, “Aunt Opie”, or “Mamaw”, and to Lily and Olivia she was Mawgree; but to all she was jovial, loving and kind. Days spent picking strawberries with her in summer, listening to her recount stories of days gone by, hugs and kisses, and her delicious red velvet cake are just a few things that will be greatly missed with her departure from our lives. Her sense of humor, candor, and vivacity in life were unprecedented and the ring of her laughter will forever be in the ears of all who knew her.

On January 9, 1946, she married the love of her life, Nicholas Fulton McGee, to whom she was completely devoted for sixty years until his death in 2006. So much could be said about their marriage both in the way they were extremely dedicated to one another through prosperity and adversity, and also the way in which they shared so much in diligence, generosity, and in laughter. Their union was further blessed with the births of their two children, Ronald Fulton McGee and Esther Annette “Lucy” McGee, both of whom they were extremely proud.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Nick, her son Ronald, and a host of siblings, Lora and Eva Lou Guyse, Lindell, Claude, Bill, Bob, Ray, Wayne, Owen, and Gladys Flippo (McGee). 

She is survived by her daughter, Annette “Lucy” McGee Joyce (James); grandchildren, Anthony Tucker (Costa), Amber Tucker Hammond, Wendy Joyce Cabler (Bryan), Rebekah Joyce Riley; great-grandchildren, Olivia and Lilyann Riley, T.J., Jesse, and Austin Tucker, and Laken, Noah, and Isabella Hammond; and her very special companion, her cat, Baby.

The family would like to sincerely thank all of the friends and family who took the time to visit and offer kind words during her illness, and to those of Alacare Hospice, who made her last days more comfortable, including Viola Wilson, Julie West, Suzanne O’Neal, Deborah Roberson, and Ellen White, with a special thanks to Stephanie Weatherford and Dr. David Bachofer.

Services will be in the care of Greenhill Funeral Home with Tim Grigsby and Ron Harmon officiating. Visitation will be between 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 19th, with the funeral at 3 p.m.  Pallbearers will be Jerry McGee, Brian McGee, Jimmy McGee, George McGee, Terry McGee, Larry McGee, Donald Flippo, and David Flippo.  Burial will follow in the McGee Family Cemetery.

Greenhill Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.