The eldest child of William Byron(Billy) Brown and Martha Belle Lafever, she was smart, tough minded, and resourceful,. She was in many ways, a woman both of her time, and before her time. An educator for most of her life, she held the firm belief that education could change the direction of lives, and was known to be a strict but excellent teacher.
She owned one of the first Model A Ford cars ever seen in the county. She was driving it when she met her first husband, Milas(Mike) Washington Driver. He was a road worker, and her car became stuck in the mud. In spite of her Father's opposition, they married. She soon gave birth to their first child, Ruby Jacqueline Driver. A second child, Jane Ann Driver was born three years later, but died within two days.
Opal and Milas moved to Fort Wayne, IN, where he found work at the Studebaker Auto Comp.. Milas liked Indiana, but when her Father became ill, Opal felt she had to move home and help her family. She and Milas divorced. After she returned home, her Father died of tuberculosis an illness that carried off several other family members. Opal cleared out the family home, burned all personal items, and burned formaldehyde candles for weeks inside the home to destroy the bacterium. No one ever caught that illness again.
A few years later, she married Harley Johnson. He suffered a serious neurological event a few years later and was hospitalized for the remainder of his life. Opal became in essence a single Mother to numerous siblings and her daughter whom she supported by teaching. In the 1950's, she and her sisters Jess and Jack bought a small, new house together in the town of Smithville. However humble, her home was always perfectly maintained. Smelling of Dove soap and furniture polish it was always welcoming. After retiring, she enjoyed spending time with her two grandchildren. She always had money for books, made doll clothes, and taught her grand-daughter hand crafts, self reliance, and to keep an open mind. Tough minded, and fearless, she was an inspiration,and still serves as a role model to those who loved her.
She owned one of the first Model A Ford cars ever seen in the county. She was driving it when she met her first husband, Milas(Mike) Washington Driver. He was a road worker, and her car became stuck in the mud. In spite of her Father's opposition, they married. She soon gave birth to their first child, Ruby Jacqueline Driver. A second child, Jane Ann Driver was born three years later, but died within two days.
Opal and Milas moved to Fort Wayne, IN, where he found work at the Studebaker Auto Comp.. Milas liked Indiana, but when her Father became ill, Opal felt she had to move home and help her family. She and Milas divorced. After she returned home, her Father died of tuberculosis an illness that carried off several other family members. Opal cleared out the family home, burned all personal items, and burned formaldehyde candles for weeks inside the home to destroy the bacterium. No one ever caught that illness again.
A few years later, she married Harley Johnson. He suffered a serious neurological event a few years later and was hospitalized for the remainder of his life. Opal became in essence a single Mother to numerous siblings and her daughter whom she supported by teaching. In the 1950's, she and her sisters Jess and Jack bought a small, new house together in the town of Smithville. However humble, her home was always perfectly maintained. Smelling of Dove soap and furniture polish it was always welcoming. After retiring, she enjoyed spending time with her two grandchildren. She always had money for books, made doll clothes, and taught her grand-daughter hand crafts, self reliance, and to keep an open mind. Tough minded, and fearless, she was an inspiration,and still serves as a role model to those who loved her.
The eldest child of William Byron(Billy) Brown and Martha Belle Lafever, she was smart, tough minded, and resourceful,. She was in many ways, a woman both of her time, and before her time. An educator for most of her life, she held the firm belief that education could change the direction of lives, and was known to be a strict but excellent teacher.
She owned one of the first Model A Ford cars ever seen in the county. She was driving it when she met her first husband, Milas(Mike) Washington Driver. He was a road worker, and her car became stuck in the mud. In spite of her Father's opposition, they married. She soon gave birth to their first child, Ruby Jacqueline Driver. A second child, Jane Ann Driver was born three years later, but died within two days.
Opal and Milas moved to Fort Wayne, IN, where he found work at the Studebaker Auto Comp.. Milas liked Indiana, but when her Father became ill, Opal felt she had to move home and help her family. She and Milas divorced. After she returned home, her Father died of tuberculosis an illness that carried off several other family members. Opal cleared out the family home, burned all personal items, and burned formaldehyde candles for weeks inside the home to destroy the bacterium. No one ever caught that illness again.
A few years later, she married Harley Johnson. He suffered a serious neurological event a few years later and was hospitalized for the remainder of his life. Opal became in essence a single Mother to numerous siblings and her daughter whom she supported by teaching. In the 1950's, she and her sisters Jess and Jack bought a small, new house together in the town of Smithville. However humble, her home was always perfectly maintained. Smelling of Dove soap and furniture polish it was always welcoming. After retiring, she enjoyed spending time with her two grandchildren. She always had money for books, made doll clothes, and taught her grand-daughter hand crafts, self reliance, and to keep an open mind. Tough minded, and fearless, she was an inspiration,and still serves as a role model to those who loved her.
She owned one of the first Model A Ford cars ever seen in the county. She was driving it when she met her first husband, Milas(Mike) Washington Driver. He was a road worker, and her car became stuck in the mud. In spite of her Father's opposition, they married. She soon gave birth to their first child, Ruby Jacqueline Driver. A second child, Jane Ann Driver was born three years later, but died within two days.
Opal and Milas moved to Fort Wayne, IN, where he found work at the Studebaker Auto Comp.. Milas liked Indiana, but when her Father became ill, Opal felt she had to move home and help her family. She and Milas divorced. After she returned home, her Father died of tuberculosis an illness that carried off several other family members. Opal cleared out the family home, burned all personal items, and burned formaldehyde candles for weeks inside the home to destroy the bacterium. No one ever caught that illness again.
A few years later, she married Harley Johnson. He suffered a serious neurological event a few years later and was hospitalized for the remainder of his life. Opal became in essence a single Mother to numerous siblings and her daughter whom she supported by teaching. In the 1950's, she and her sisters Jess and Jack bought a small, new house together in the town of Smithville. However humble, her home was always perfectly maintained. Smelling of Dove soap and furniture polish it was always welcoming. After retiring, she enjoyed spending time with her two grandchildren. She always had money for books, made doll clothes, and taught her grand-daughter hand crafts, self reliance, and to keep an open mind. Tough minded, and fearless, she was an inspiration,and still serves as a role model to those who loved her.
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