Opal L. Dacus

Opal Watchous Dacus, 91, of Emporia, Kansas, died Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Holiday Resort Care Center in Emporia.  At her request, no services will be held.  Opal was born May 31, 1927, in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, to Clarence and Jennie Harlan Watchous.  She married Warren Keith Cooper in Marion, Kansas, on July 28, 1944, and later divorced.  She married Thomas Dacus in Coffeyville, Kansas, on May 27, 1973.  As a young wife, she had been a member of the Eastern Star.  As a single mother, Opal was a restaurant manager and worked in doctor and hospital offices.  Later in life while living in Dallas, Texas, she owned and managed a Snelling and Snelling Employment Service franchise.  In 1992, she retired and moved to Emporia with her husband, Tom.  She enjoyed bowling, golfing, fishing, and quilting and loved dogs.

Opal is survived by son Jerry Cooper of Cottonwood Falls; daughters Judy Cooper Welch and husband Dave of Emporia and Janet Cooper Taylor and husband Tommy of Amarillo, Texas; step-daughter Laura Dacus Lee and husband Jim of Tulsa, Oklahoma; granddaughters, Lora Spillman Odle of Liberal, Kansas, Gloria Cooper Cummings and husband Darryl of Topeka, Kansas, Kristi Cooper Fletcher and husband Chris of Paola, Kansas; step-granddaughters, Carrie Lee Browning and husband Andrew of Denver Colorado and Adrian Lee of Seattle, Washington; grandsons Jeff Cooper and wife Sadie of Cottonwood Falls and Chad Eric Steinhoff and wife Ashley of Weatherford, Texas; stepson Brandon Lee and wife Allison of Dallas, Texas; twelve great grandchildren, four great step-grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren.

Opal is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister Juanita Evans, her grandson Russell Cooper, her granddaughter Lisa Spillman Mesa, and her stepson Robert Lee Dacus.

Cremation has taken place with a private service at a later date.  The family requests that memorials be sent to the H. Dale Buck Animal Welfare Fund in care of the funeral home.