Opal Josephine Barnes

Opal Barnes was born Opal Josephine Rowley on February 25, 1917, to Fred & Martha Rowley. She was their third child. The oldest was also named Fred & second oldest was Clara. In 1919, the family homesteaded land in Grand County, near Granby, Colorado. The family stayed at the homestead for one winter and then before the next winter Martha moved the children down to Denver so that young Fred could attend school. Although Fred & Martha separated, the children spent many summers at the homestead, where there were many things to do & experience. The homestead is still there, now known as the Fred Rowley Museum in the YMCA Camp at Snow Mountain Ranch. Opal attended West High School, and, as one boy wrote in her yearbook, she was known as the 'girl with the big smile'. After graduating from high school, she attended the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, where she studied Cosmotology. For most of her life, Opal was a secretary. Opal met & married Paul Collins and they had a daughter, Jeanine. Seven years later daughter Peggy was born. Opal & Paul divorced & she later married James Keith. Opal & James lived in Westminster, Colorado for many years and then moved to Hemet, California in 1984. Opal & James divorced two years later and in 1987 Opal married Al Barnes & moved to Lubbock, Texas. They lived in Lubbock until Al's death in 1999, when Opal moved to Salida, Colorado to live next door to Jeanine in her duplex. Due to Opal's declining health & beginning her long term battle with Alzheimers, she went to live at Safe Haven, an assisted living home in Salida. Opal's daughter, Jeanine passed away on March 1, 2006. Opal stayed in Salida for a short time and then moved down to Arbor Rose Assisted Living Home in Northglenn, CO. After two hospital visits that furthered her illness, she went to live at Elms Haven Care Center in Thornton, CO. Opal lived there until she passed away on December 14, 2010. She is survived by one daughter, 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, numerous nieces & nephews, and cousins. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, December 20, 4:00PM at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 9998 Grant Street, Thornton. Memorial contributions in Opal's name can be made to Alzheimer's Association-Colorado Chapter at alz.org/co or The Susan G. Komen Foundation at KomenDenver.org. Please share memories of Opal and condolences to her family by selecting the ""Sign Guestbook"" tab below.