Opal Josephine (Garrett) Knowles was born to Myrtle Vianna Ewart and George Frank Garrett on February 13, 1911 at Lone Bell, Oklahoma. Opal passed away at the Vici Nursing Home on December 18, 2007 at the age of 96 years, 10 months and 5 days.

Opal lived in surrounding areas of Arnett attending school at Lily School and graduating from Arnett High School in 1929. On Sunday evening at four o'clock, Opal Garrett married Jerry S. Knowles at the Fowler Place southwest of Arnett. To this union 5 children were born: Elmer Frank, Roberta Faye, Carolyn Ann, Neva Gayle and Billy Jack. Opal and Jerry lived 4 miles southwest of Arnett for 56 years before building their present home in 1986 in Arnett.

Opal spent 66 wonderful years married to Jerry, her time was spent raising her children, participating in Handy Home Quilting Club, Eastern Stars and Library Club. Opal was baptized at the Gage swimming pool in 1926 and was a member of the First Christian Church of Arnett, Oklahoma.

She is preceded in death by her husband Jerry S. Knowles in 1998; by her parents George and Myrtle Garrett; by her son Billy Jack Knowles and wife Susan; by son-in-law Victor Melton; by 2 sisters, Venus Coombs and husband Pete and Eva Hall and husband Fred; by infant brother Martin Garrett and brother–in-law Hubert Tefertiller.

Opal is survived by one son Frank Knowles and wife Gertrude of Arnett; by three daughters Roberta Henderson and husband Ed of Fort Gibson, OK, Carolyn Griffith and husband Wayne of Wilburton, Ok, and Gayle Melton of Arnett, Oklahoma; by one sister Vera Tefertiller of Arnett, 12 grandchildren: Kenny Knowles, Vickie Yeager, Larry Henderson, Jerry Henderson, Terry Henderson, Rhonda Johnson, Kent Griffith, Sharon Little, Kelly Taylor, Keith Griffith, Melisa McMurphy and Randy Knowles; 28 great grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family and many, many friends.