Obituary of Opaleen Lucille Turnbo

Opaleen L. Turnbo, 89, of Niles passed away at Lakeland Hospital in Niles, on Tuesday, December 17, 2019. She was born in Tennessee to the late Luther and Minnie (Cagel) Sims. On May 4, 1948, she married James E. Turnbo Sr. at a ceremony in Arkansas, and to that union nine children were born. Opaleen worked for several years at Green Giant and Food Specialties in Niles. She loved being outdoors; she spent a lot of time in her garden growing vegetables. Opaleen had a huge heart, she would welcome strays of any kind, often fostering and adopting several dogs at one time. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, James, and her siblings. She is survived by her children, Jim (Patsy) Turnbo, Allen (Karen) Turnbo, Timothy Turnbo all of Niles; John (Tina) Turnbo of Illinois; Brenda (Bruce) Monroe, Jennifer (Mike) LaPorte, and Patricia Turnbo all of Niles, Gail (Jerry) Vankirk of Marshall, Michigan and Carolyn Sanders of Virginia; twenty-seven grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren. Visitation will begin Friday, December 20, 2019, at 12:00 PM with a service to follow at 1:00 PM. at Mission Hills Memorial Chapel, 61453 M-51; Niles, Michigan. Those wishing to make memorial donations may do so to the ASPCA.