Aug. 16, 1915 – July 29, 2011
Jean Shanks May Opel, 95, a longtime Lebanon resident, most recently of Albany, died July 29, 2011 at Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis.
She was born Aug. 16, 1915 in Portland. She was the adopted daughter of Joseph and Portia Mae (Price) Stewart of Sodaville. Upon their deaths, when she was young, she was raised by her stepfather, Charles Butler, and at that time she was known as Jean Butler.
She attended ele-mentary and high school in Lebanon. For many years she helped to organize the high school class of 1934 annual gatherings.
She married Basil L. Shanks Sept. 1, 1934 at Lebanon. They made their home at Lebanon until 1946 when they moved to Dollar Camp on the upper Calapooia River, 10 miles from Holley. Mrs. Opel was an Avon representative for 13 years and a newspaper correspondent for The New Era for more than 10 years. Her husband, Basil, died July 6, 1973.
On Dec. 17, 1977 she married a longtime friend, Jacob S. May, in Bozeman, Mont. and lived in that area until March 1981 when they moved to Lebanon. He died Nov. 30, 1981.
Jean was a longtime member of the Lebanon First United Methodist Church, where she was in charge of the Sunday morning greeters for 20 years. She was also a member of Marguerite Chapter #60 Order of Eastern Star and was a 75-plus-year member of the Royal Neighbors of America. She was a former member of the Lebanon Hospital Auxiliary, with more than 2,000 volunteer hours.
On March 2, 2003, at age 87, she married a longtime friend, Clarence Opel, at the First United Methodist Church in Lebanon and they made their home at the Mennonite Village in Albany since.
Mrs. Opel is survived by her husband, Clarence; two sons, Richard Shanks of Albany and Ronald E. Shanks, Sr. of Lebanon; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren and two step-great-great-grandchildren.
Viewing hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 3 at Huston-Jost Funeral Home and before the funeral service, which will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, at the Lebanon First United Methodist Church. She will be buried next to her first husband, Basil, at the Lebanon IOOF Cemetery.
Mrs. Opel has suggested that any memorial contributions be directed to the Lebanon First United Methodist Church or the charity of the donor’s choice and directed to Huston –Jost Funeral Home; 86 W. Grant St.; Lebanon, OR 97355.