Opal Lee Boleyn Brewer was born December 8th, 1931, the eldest daughter of Loyd Boleyn and Mary Furnish Boleyn.  Loyd, a farmer, and Mary, the town seamstress, raised their family in Monette, Arkansas, instilling strong moral values and a work ethic in all of their children.  She spent her formative years in Monette, surrounded by her younger sisters, Janie, Rheba, and Virginia, and her brother, Jim. Her youngest brother, Kerry, joined the family after she left home to begin her adult life.  Loyd and Mary provided a foundation for their children described in Matthew 7:24-27, reminding them that any question in life can be answered by God's word. Their wisdom continued through Opal, as she built her house upon a rock that remained unshakeable and able to withstand the storms of life.

In 1951, she met and married the love of her life, George "Eddy" Brewer, and they began their family in small farming communities throughout Arkansas and Illinois, welcoming their daughters Beverly Cheryl, Julia Dianne (Anne), Edna Rene, Patricia Gale, and Mary Elizabeth. They later settled in Northern Mississippi during the formative years of what would become the city of Southaven, MS. Ed, Eddy, or Mr. Brewer owned Brewer's 66 Service Station, and Opal worked for Lincoln American Insurance Company and eventually, ILS, where she remained an employee for many years. During their years on Connerly Drive in Southaven, they were active in their church and the surrounding community.   Eddy's proudest moment was the addition of their only son, Barry, to their clan, just as their daughters Beverly, Anne, and Rene began having families of their own. The older grandchildren and "Uncle Barry" growing beside one another provided memories and laughter that lasted for many years to come.

After relocating to Eudora, MS, the KoKo Reef Lake community, they continued raising their family and welcoming back their grown children, spouses, and grandchildren, whom they loved so much. All have fond memories of weekends and holidays at the Koko Reef home.  Everyone was welcome, and you left with numerous hugs and a stomach full of what is believed to be the best potato salad in the Southern US (and hands down, in the North). These gatherings included everyone and anyone in Eddy and Opal's immediate and extended family.  Whether you knew her as Opal, Mrs. Opal, Sis, Aunt Opal, Mom, or Mamaw, you knew you were welcome anytime, and she would be happy to see you.

On weekends and evenings, Opal and Eddy danced the night away or enjoyed vacations, family events, and outings with people she loved or close friends who became family. They enjoyed spending time together, staying close with her sisters and their spouses: Janie and Harold, Rheba and Bill, Virginia and Henry, and traveling to see her brother Jim and his wife Angie in California. Their love for life and for each other remained strong throughout their 50 years together. Their marriage became an example of true love and commitment, and this was evident in the way they looked at each other, spoke to and about each other, and remained together until their very last earthly day in 2001.

After Eddy's departure, Opal carried his love and memory with her, relocating to Horn Lake, MS, where she was surrounded by her family. She remained there for many years and, eventually, continued adventures with her companion, Richard Whitney, until moving to the Wesley Meadows Retirement community. Her family remained present to witness her later years at Wesley Meadows and remain deeply grateful for the kindness and compassionate care she received from the staff and members of the community, expressing their deepest thanks for the love shown to her.

Opal will be greeted in heaven by her parents, Mary and Lloyd; her sisters, Edna Marie and Janie Johnson; her spouse of 50 years, George Edward Brewer; and her two daughters, Patricia Gale Ruppert and Mary Elizabeth Dees. Those remaining who are grateful to call her "Mom": Beverly Mitchell (Bill), Anne Brewer, Rene DeYoung (Harry), and Barry Brewer, will all miss her comforting presence. Her 13 grandchildren will deeply cherish all the memories created and the closeness of family they experienced at "Mamaw and Papaw's", and the unwavering love she poured upon them. Opal's life and legacy will live on through them and their fond memories of her, her joy and kindness that remained until her last breath. In addition, her legacy continues through her 32 great-grandchildren and 30 great-great-grandchildren, her siblings, their spouses, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins spread throughout Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

To honor Opal's memory, her family requests that you make a conscious effort to demonstrate love to others as she did.   Including, but not limited to, loving your family and those around you with deep, unfailing love. Never miss an opportunity to tell someone how much they mean to you and to remind them often of your love; there are never too many times to say it.  Speak kindly of everyone, and if you can't speak kindly of them, keep those thoughts to yourself. Notice the beauty in everyone and everything you see. Add singing or dancing to any moment you wish to. Forgive others as Christ forgave you.   Leave the past where it is, in the past, and live life forward, with gratitude and joy in your heart always.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your Choice or to https://www.mss.org/give-today/  in Opal's memory.