Obituary of Opal Kidder

Services for Opal Kidder, 87, New London, are scheduled for 10:00 am, Wednesday, November 15, at the London Baptist Church with the Reverends Mike Jeter and Steve Boyd officiating. Burial will be in Rusk County Memorial Gardens, near Henderson, under the direction of Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home, Overton. Mrs. Kidder died Sunday, November 12, in a Tyler hospice facility. She was born August 19,1919, in Springhill, Louisiana, to the late A.B. and Mamie Strickland Kelly. She had been a resident of the East Texas area for 57 years, moving from Haynesville, Louisiana. Mrs. Kidder was a longtime member of the London Baptist Church, where she was both a member, and served as the teacher for, the Esther Sunday School Class. She was also a member of the church's benevolent committee for many years. She married Emery Kidder April 7, 1939. He preceded her in death September 2, 2004. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Pamela Sue Kidder; two brothers, Shelly Kelly and Otho Kelly; and a sister, Zora Williams. Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Wanda and Jerry McGovney, Jefferson, Tom and Kay Dullard, New London, and Patti and Allan Torbert, Overton; six grandchildren and their spouses, Shawn and Amber McGovney, Matthew and Cheneil Torbert, Emily and Josh Hill, John and Janie Dullard, P.J. and Marie Dullard, Christine Dullard; and two great-grandchildren, Dustin McGovney, and Allison McGovney. Pallbearers will be Hunter Hawkins, Steve Wedgeworth, Larry Clinkscales, Randy Arnold, Blaine Flander, and Jimmy Miller. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Ladies of the Esther Sunday School Class and Reverend Bob Jones. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the London Baptist Church Family Life Center, P.O. Box 198, New London, TX 75682 or to the Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Tuesday, November 14.