Opal Puckett Blackman

SIKESTON - Opal C. Puckett Blackman, 81, died at 6 a.m. July 26, 2002, at her home, following an extended illness.

Born Jan. 13, 1921, in Sikeston, son of the late Andrew Johnson and Matilda Taylor Crutchfield, she graduated in 1939 from Sikeston High School. Before retiring, she had been a clerk for the Sterling Dime Store, was an operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Sikeston and was a teller first for the Bank of Sikeston and later for Security National Bank in Sikeston. For nine years, she owned and operated Puckett Distributing Company in Sikeston, where she was a member of the First United Methodist Church for more than 50 years.

In December 1945, she married Bill Puckett who preceded her in death on April 12, 1963.

On Jan. 20, 1968, in Sikeston, she married M.L. "Windy" Blackman who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, Phil and Sondra Puckett of Sikeston; one daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Mike Guess of Denver, Colo.; one stepdaughter, Lisa B. Miller of Collierville, Tenn.; and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Two brothers and five sisters also preceded her in death.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel, where services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday. The Rev. Sandy Schaller, associate pastor of the First United Methodist Church, will officiate.

Burial will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be sent to:

the Visiting Nurses Association of Southeast Missouri 1218 Linn St. Sikeston, Mo. 63801

or

First United Methodist Church 1307 N. Main St. Sikeston, Mo. 63801