Opal Bernice Downey, 87, of Independence, MO, formerly of Adrian, MO, passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in Independence, MO. A private graveside service will be held at Crescent Hill Cemetery. There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Downey Carriage House in Adrian, MO. 

Opal Bernice (Farrell) Downey was born on March 1, 1939, in Tonasket, Washington. She was the fourth of four children born to Loyd and Bessie (Worthington) Farrell. Opal’s parents were truck gardeners and orchardists and resided in the states of Washington, Oregon and California. When she was seven, her parents bought a dairy farm near Butler, Missouri, where Opal enjoyed her new collie dog, a new bike, and a proud, high-stepping horse which her father bought at an auction.

At the age of eight, Opal was baptized into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She attended several rural schools. She graduated from high school in 1956 in Butler, Missouri. She then went on to attend Graceland College, where she began nurse’s training in 1957.

On January 18, 1958, Opal married Glennis Lynn Downey. In 1960, she went to work for Hallmark Cards as a graphic artist and worked there for 9 ½ years. Opal and Glennis were blessed with three children: Randy, Rayland, and Renae. Opal was a caregiver for her grandmother and her mother, as well as a variety of other occupations including housewife, graphic artist, truck driver, and many others. After her husband retired in 2002, they traveled together in an RV and enjoyed staying at many coast-to-coast RV parks.

Her love for Jesus Christ prompted much religious studies. After a lifetime of study, at the age of 67, Opal wrote a book entitled “Who is Jesus Christ?” and went on to write several other books later in life.

Opal was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents, Loyd and Bessie Farrell, her husband, Glennis Downey, her siblings, Lester “Vern”, David and Ethel and great-great grandson, Benny Hawley. She is survived by her children, Randy Downey (Connie) of Mayview, Missouri; Rayland Downey (Angela) of Adrian, Missouri; and Renae Edson (Dan) of Independence, Missouri; her grandchildren, Melinda Hawley (Jared), Melanie Coney (James), Benjamin Downey, Maranda Downey, Jordan Downey (Stephanie), Brittany Moorhead, Dylanjer Downey, Jacob Edson, Justin Edson (Makayla), Emily Edson, and Daniel Edson; her great-grandchildren, Brandon Hawley (Heidi), Phillip Hawley, Kevin Coney (Malinda), McKenzie Coney, Kayley Coney, Austin Coney, Daxton Moorhead, Matexli Moorhead, Joselyn Downey, Amelia Downey, Jensen Downey, Addlynne Edson; great-great grandchildren, Noah, Adam and Luella Hawley, and many other cousins, nieces, nephews, honorary grandchildren, and friends. She will be greatly missed!