Opal Knight Satterwhite

Opal Knight Satterwhite passed away peacefully August 16, 2015 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. To say she will be missed is certainly an understatement although in truth the disease took her from us some time ago.

Opal was born October 4, 1927 in New Salem, Rusk County, Texas to William Byrd Knight and Ruby Acker Knight. She married the love of her life Jesse “Bo” Satterwhite December 4, 1946. She followed him to California where he served in the United States Navy and then returned to Nacogdoches with him upon discharge where they continued to build a family, a life, and a legacy based on their shared faith. Opal had many jobs over the years including running the local bus station with her husband and retiring from Cason Monk Hardware after 18 years only to again work near her husband at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. She and Bo were charter members of Memorial Baptist Church, now known as Iglesia Baptista Memorial. She was always strong in faith and active in church as a prayer warrior, Sunday school teacher and G. A. leader, as well as serving in Campers for Christ and as a chaplain in Market Place Ministries. Always a lover of animals, she also worked with O’ Malley Alley Cats.

Opal was preceded in death by her husband Jesse A. “Bo” Satterwhite, brother James Alton Knight, parents William and Ruby Knight, sisters-in-law Ann and Dessie Knight, and daughter-in-law Robbie Satterwhite.

She is proudly survived by brothers Reverend Billy Knight and J.W. “Bub” Knight, sons David Satterwhite and wife Lana of Shelbyville, John Satterwhite of Pollok, Mike Satterwhite and wife Sue of Saginaw, Michigan, and daughter Susan Satterwhite of Nacogdoches. She also left behind grandchildren Kelly Leslie, Rae Martin, Teri Bolton, Wyndi Cage, Misty Black, Cliff Satterwhite, Jesi Satterwhite, Dana Berney, George Berney, Holly Satterwite, Justin Satterwhite, and Chris Satterwhite in addition to great-grandchildren Jeff Satterwhite, Andrew Williams, Hailey Cage, Lesli Williams, Kimberly Johns, Deacon Black, Nellie Satterwhite, Austin Malloy, Avery Malloy, Lexi Berney, and George Berney III and four great-great grandchildren. Opal would have also liked to have acknowledged special survivors Nancy Jo Andrews, Diannia Vawter, James Cates, as well as a very large extended family and beloved Bassett hound, Duke.

She was at her best and her happiest when her large brood was gathered around and she was cooking for them.

Visitation will be Wednesday August 19, 2015 from 6 to 8 pm with funeral to follow Thursday August 20 at 10 am at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Dave Martin, Jeff Satterwhite, Brian Cage, Andrew Williams, Jerry Black, Cliff Satterwhite, Justin Satterwhite, Chris Satterwhite, and James Cates. Honorary pallbearers will be Clay Leslie, Heath Bolton, George Berney, Steve Knight, Alton Knight, Timothy Hartman, and D.J. Johns. Services will be conducted by Pastors Sonny Scarborough and Ford Adkins.

In her honor her family formed the Forget-Me-Not team and has raised money and walked to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease for the last 3 years.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association would be a great honor to her memory.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, located at 5400 North Street in Nacogdoches, Texas.