Born Nov 5th, 1908 in Midland, MI, passed in peace on September 12, 2005 in Valrico FL. Charlie Morris, Opal's father, married Rachael Mae Shangle. The Morris family owned one of the first grocery stores in Midland. As a young girl, Opal Morris was no stranger to work, beginning her work history in the family business which was located on Ellsworth Street. The Dow Chemical Co was in it's infancy stage when Opal obtained work in the Dow Cafeteria.

Later in life she would proudly display her Dow ID, which had a single digit "employee number". Opal went on to work at the Dow paper press, which would become Hawkins Letter Service, and then McKay Press, from which she ultimately retired.

Opal was one of the first women in Midland to own her own car, and because of this, chauffeured her friends around the county. Throughout her long life, Opal enjoyed many hobbies including reading detective magazines, dancing, stock car races, auctions, and watching wrestling. Her love of wrestling stayed with her, and she continued to watch WWF events well into her nineties. her passion for birds was with her throughout her life. She became known in Midland and surrounding counties as the "Bird Lady". In the 1950s the Midland Daily News published an article on her and her birds. Opal raised finches, parakeets, cockatiels, an African parrot named Ricky and a crow named Joe. Over time and with much patience, Opal was able to teach Joe to talk. She continued to raise and care for birds, specifically a parrot named Cajun, until her strength began to fail in 2004.

Opal had a true zest for life, and with her bright red hair, and open laugh she was an unforgettable character, known by many for her outrageous escapades.

Opal was preceded in death by her first husband, Willard Cassiday; daughter-in-law Norma Jean (Hepinstall) Cassiday; son Dale L. Cassiday; second husband, Kenneth King; brother-in-law/son-in-law, Dencil King; three sisters, Hazel Marshall – (known as the Doll Woman), Sedona Johnson, Reva Butcher, and one brother, Forest Morris.

Opal was survived by her devoted daughter, Marie L. King of Valrico FL; six grandchildren: Cindy (Cassiday) Ludwig, Macomb, MI; Michael Cassiday, Lake Jackson TX; Sharron (Cassiday) Trombley, Beaverton, MI; Sandra (King) Stevens, Valrico, FL; Lynn (King) Reid , Leesburg, FL; and Dencil King Jr. Valrico, FL. She is also survived by nine great grandchildren: Kamie Yost, Aaron Ludwig, Trent Lee, Devan Lee, Joshua King, Meghan Cassiday, Andria Ludwig, Jessica Trombley Roebuck, Ryan Cassiday and seven great-great grandchildren.

Opal Cordelia (Morris) Cassiday King was anything but shy, standing up for what she believed was right. Her actions helped pave the way for many of the freedoms enjoyed by women today. She was a true "first lady" and she will be deeply missed.