Opal May Rickard Goff

Opal May Goff, age 90, passed away November 12, 2011 . She was born February 25, 1921 in Tyler Texas to Herbert and Ethel Lourinda (Harwell) Rickard. The family, including Opal’s sister Ruby, moved to Brittan, Oklahoma around 1922. Opal’s father died when Opal was only 12 years old. Life was extremely hard for Opal, her mother and sister for several years until Ethel met and married Andrew J. Corbin in 1936. The family moved to Jones, Oklahoma in 1939. Andy was a loving father and husband until his death in 1954. Opal graduated from Jones High School in 1940. She married John William Goff on Sunday, June 16, 1940 in his parents’ home north of Jones, OK. The entire wedding party then attended Sunday School and Church at First Christian Church in Jones with the same minister conducting the wedding and the Church service. John and Opal moved to California for two years where John worked for Douglass Aircraft. Their first daughter, Charlotte, was born in Santa Monica , California . They moved back to Jones when she was 3 months old and remained there the rest of their lives. While John served in the Navy during WWII, Opal stayed with her parents and gave birth to a second daughter, Shirley. In 1946, they bought their first and only home in Jones, living there for 65 years. Opal was the head dietician for the Jones Elementary through High School for 13 years. She loved being close to all the children.

She remained a member of Jones First Christian Church from 1940 until her death in 2011. While there she held many positions in the Church and directed Bible School there for 15 years. After John’s retirement, the two of them bought an Airstream Trailer and traveled all over the United States and Canada with the Airstream Travel Trailer Club. She and John traveled 25 years after retirement. They took one or more of their grandchildren with them on many of their trips. Opal was an avid card player and met with her many friends weekly to play a round or two. She taught numerous people to play Bridge. She loved the game. Opal is survived by two daughters, Charlotte Wood and husband Woody of Oklahoma City, Shirley Outon and husband, Jim, of Blanchard; five grandchildren and spouses; 12 great grandchildren, 2 great, great grandchildren, and a host of friends. Opal was preceded in death by her husband, John Goff, parents, Herbert Rickard, Mother Ethel Rickard Corbin, step-father, Andy J. Corbin and a host of friends. A visitation will be held on Tuesday after noon from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. and all day Wednesday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the family receiving guests from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, November 17, at Bill Eisenhour Northeast, 8805 NE 23, with interment at Jones City I.O.O.F. Cemetery .