Opal Mae Ellison

Opal Mae Ellison, 86, of Hallsville transitioned peacefully into the next part of her life on Friday June 1st as the result of a recent injury. There to greet her were her husband, William “Bill” Ellison (deceased 2012), an infant son, her parents, and 13 brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M., Monday June 4, 2018 at Meisenheimer Funeral Home in Tipton, Missouri with burial immediately following at the IOOF Cemetery in Tipton. A visitation will begin prior to the service at 9:00 A.M.

Opal was born October 24, 1931. She was one of sixteen children (8 boys and 8 girls) born to Blanche and Willie Porter. Opal married the love of her life, Bill Ellison on March 5, 1949. They were married for 63 wonderful years. Opal moved with her husband and children to Columbia in 1962 and eventually to Hallsville in 1973. Opal lived in Hallsville up until her death, a resident for 45 years.

Opal was very well known in the Central Missouri Area for her expertise and love of antiques. For over four decades she was a regular attendee at auctions. Many of the local auctioneers had nicknames for her and would ask her for her help in identifying what they were about to sell. She was always willing to share her knowledge. She operated Ellison’s Antique shop adjacent to her home for many years. She had lots of regular customers that became her dear friends. She was one of the first dealers to move into the Ice Chalet Antique Mall and she was still there when it closed.

Besides antiques, Opal and Bill had a truck farming operation selling strawberries, tomatoes, watermelons and cantaloupes that were grown on their 110 acre farm.

Opal was small but mighty. Since she started dating Bill when she was 15 she never got her driver’s license, because Bill drove her everywhere. When she was at an auction He could often be seen in a lawn chair under a shade tree nearby. Once married they never spent a night apart. Despite not having a driver’s license she drove her riding lawn mower like it was a race car. Family would often joke that she was going at least 70mph when she was “driving” the mower. Occasionally a tree would get in the way of her speed and the front end of the mower would end up in the branches.

Opal was a hugger. She hugged everyone she met. She loved her family immensely and would always tell them she loved them. When you would reply with, “I love you too”, her response was always “I love you more”. She always had to have the last word.

She was incredibly tough, loving, generous, spry and simply amazing. Up until a few days before her accident she was weed-eating her yard. One of her doctors said it best when she stated “They don’t build Grandma’s like that anymore.”

Opal is survived by two sons, Russell Ellison and wife Debbie of Manchester, MO and David Ellison of Hallsville; two granddaughters, Michelle Gingerich and husband Val of Columbia, and Kathleen Trabue and husband Todd of St. Louis; three great-grandchildren, Lola and Alex Gingerich and River Trabue. In addition, she is survived by 1 brother and 1 sister. She dearly loved her puppy dog, Rusty.

In lieu of flowers please hug your family and friends. Donations can also be made to the American Cancer Society 1900 N. Providence Rd. #105, Columbia, MO 65202

Online condolences may be submitted at meisenheimerfuneralhome.com

Funeral arrangements under the direction of Meisenheimer Funeral Home, Tipton, Missouri.

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