EMPORIA — Opal F. Smith, 90, passed away Dec. 13, 2015, at Emporia Presbyterian Manor in Emporia. Born April 13, 1925, in Montezuma, she was the daughter of Franklin Scott and Florence D. (Kern) Tinkum. Opal was a graduate of Ingalls High School. On May 7, 1943, she married Ronald Werner. They had two children, Robert G. Werner and Janet K. Evans. During that time they resided in Garden City, and Opal worked at the Finney County Assessor’s Office, and later the U.S. Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Office. They later divorced. Opal married Wayne Rowland in 1958. He died in 1980. While married to Wayne, they were National Champion Trap Shooters in their respective classes. After Wayne’s death she moved to Great Bend where she worked as a bookkeeper in the Barton County Treasurers Office. There she met, and married, Roland L. “Smitty” Smith Sr. on Feb. 14, 1987. They enjoyed traveling the country in their fifth wheel R.V. and moved to Emporia shortly before his death on Sept. 4, 1992.
Surviving family members include her son, Robert (Siew) Werner, Oakland, Calif.; daughter, Janet (Skip) Evans, Emporia; sister, Geneva McLeod, Wichita; seven grandchildren, Jenny (Phil) Gibbs, Monica (Richard) Duncan, Nicholas (Milo) Werner, Kitty (Jesse) Liggett, David (Tricia) Evans, Kalin Werner, and Alex Werner; eight great-grandchildren, Mandy Gibbs, Fletcher Werner, Madison Evans, Kaylee Duncan, Laural Werner, Ethan and Dillon Evans, and Karlee Liggett; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husbands; three brothers, Forrest, Roy, and Ralph Tinkum; and two sisters, Enid Sawyer and Edith Reeder.
At her request, Opal has been cremated. A celebration of her life will take place in the spring. Memorials have been established to the Old Time Fiddlers & Pickers in Emporia or the Emporia Senior Center in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be sent online through the funeral home website; www.robertsblue.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home**
P.O. Box 175
Emporia, KS.  66801
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Dec. 22, 2015