Opal Pearl (Berry) Barta

Opal P. Brown (Berry) Barta, 92, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Monday, May 19, 2014 at her daughter’s home in Riverdale, Nebraska. Opal was born September 29, 1921 at the home of her parents Exie Russel & Laura Elizabeth (Taylor) Brown, near Venango, Nebraska. She attended school in Kearney, Nebraska through the sixth grade when the family moved to the Hayes Center, Palisade Nebraska area. Opal would continue her education in Hayes Center. At the age of 21, Opal went to Arlington, California and worked for Hunter engineering manufacturing airplane parts for the war effort. On September 22, 1946 she married Isaac James Berry in the Navy Chapel in San Diego, California. After the war ended the plant closed and she returned to Nebraska. Five children were blessed to this union: Barb, Jim, Pat, Sandy & Terry. Opal’s family moved many times throughout the state before settling down in Cozad, Nebraska in 1960. Opal was busy taking care of her children, but she also cleaned houses and worked at Andy’s Supper Club. Isaac preceded Opal in death in 1994. She was fortunate enough to find love again and was united in marriage to Lloyd E. Barta on August 15, 1999, at Lexington where they would reside. Lloyd preceded Opal in death in 2011. Opal loved to dancing, gardening and planting flowers. She was an avid sports fan and especially like watching football. She also enjoyed going to Antique shops. Opal loved spending time with her family especially her grandchildren. Survivors include her children: Barb (Ray) Fleharty of Cozad, Nebraska Jim (Jan) Berry of Osceola, Nebraska Pat (Guy) Johnson of Riverdale, Nebraska Sandy (Tom) Bevacqua of Greenfield, Massachusetts Terry (Shari) Berry of White Oak, Texas Two step-children: Lloyd (Susan) Barta Jr. of Colorado Karma (Rick) Bevard of Cozad, Nebraska Twelve grandchildren, Twenty-great-grandchildren with one on the way & eight great-step-grandchildren Numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends Opal was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, brothers; David, Shorty, Stanley, Ky, Lyle, John, Ernest & Marion, and a sister; Tilla. Memorial Services will be Friday, May 23, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington with Reverend Dr. Dyton Owen, officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Lexington. Visitation will be held Thursday, May 22, 2014, from 5-7 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Memorials are suggested to Park Avenue Estates in Lexington. Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com