Opal Florence Anderson Yankie

Born: April 5, 1921 Waco, McLennan County, Texas

Died: October 18, 2020 Waco, McLennan County, Texas

Daughter of: Covus Randolph Anderson and Evalena Byrd Anderson

Wife to: Hugh Alvin Yankie

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the final home going of our beloved Mother, Mrs. Opal Anderson Yankie, on Sunday, October 18, 2020, in Waco, Texas.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, in the Garden Room of Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home from 5-7 pm. Services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, October 22, by family friend Rev. Dr. Gerald McKelroy, pastor of Greater Waco Baptist Church, with the assistance of Rev. Mike Copeland, pastor of First Baptist Church, China Spring.

Mrs. Yankie was born April 5, 1921, in Waco, Texas to Covus Randolph “Cope” Anderson and Evalena Byrd Anderson. She grew up in lovely Blue Mountain, Mississippi and China Spring, Texas. The family finally settled on Texas, though part of their hearts forever remained in Blue Mountain.

Our Mother met and fell in love with the young man who lived across from what is now Yankie Road, H. A. “Boots” Yankie, son of Grover Leo Yankie and Zola Whitfield Yankie. They were married September 21, 1940, by the pastor of the Baptist Church in Erath Community near China Spring. This union lasted 51 years until our adored father left us on June 1, 1992. He was a Deacon at that church where is brother, Mike Yankie, directed the singing.

Mother and Daddy had four very fortunate children. We say “fortunate” because we were blessed with parents who loved us beyond measure and a grandmother, Mrs. Zola Yankie, who continued to live on the Whitfield -Yankie homeplace the rest of her life.

We were children who were never “kept” by anyone other than our ever protecting parents or our wonderful paternal grandmother who played a huge part in our lives.

Mother was baptized at Cooper’s Crossing in the Bosque River at age 11, and became a member of what is now First Baptist Church, China Spring. Mother was a lifelong Christian, a steadfast believer and led her children throughout our lives. She was a role model impossible to live up to, but we did our best under our parent’s lifelong good guidance. Mother was the oldest member of the church at age 99 years and 6 months.

Mrs. Yankie was a real Southern Christian Lady of impeccable character for whom her role of wife and mother never waivered. She was ever mindful of wisdom and understanding based on the Holy Scriptures, and both she and our father gave unconditional love. She made sure her children were in church every Sunday from the nursery and beyond. Mother taught Sunday School classes and participated in Vacation Bible School. The fact that her daughters were church organist and pianist from an early age was a source of pride for our parents.

Their youngest son also participated in the music programs at various churches during his studies at Baylor and forward. He is quite an accomplished musician (trumpet, piano) to include all aspects of the consummate musician. Grover Lee, named for his Grandfather Grover Leo Yankie, our brother whom we lost far too soon was also a very talented musician (bass guitar).

Mother is predeceased by her parents, her devoted husband, Hugh Alvin “Boots” Yankie, an infant son, Kenneth Franklin Yankie, her beloved son, Grover Lee Yankie, and a much loved son-in-law, Dr. Lewis S. Sidarous; her siblings: Brewer Franklin Anderson, Jewel Anderson Davis, Mabel Anderson Alexander and Grace Anderson Pundt; her nephews, Ben M. Yankie and Warren Alvin Yankie; niece, Carolyn Kay Pundt Duffer; and husband from 2001-2010, Rev. A. L. Davis, who also died at age 99.

Mother is survived by her three remaining children, grandchildren and great grandchild.

Pallbearers are family friends, most of whom spent time in Mother’s home and her woods on Live Oak Creek, and called her “Grandmama”.

The namesakes of Opal Anderson Yankie were extremely close to the original Opal. They carry the name with great pride and with a lot to live up to.

The most recent and brightest light, who brought a sparkle to Mother’s eyes and a big smile to her face, was the latest addition to our family, a great grandchild whom she lovingly held in her arms and knew for three years. She is the daughter of Mother and Daddy’s dearly loved grandson.

Our Mother, Mrs. Opal Anderson Yankie along with our Father, Boots Yankie are and will be missed daily, and there aren’t words to express how much. She was a force of nature and the strongest woman we knew. We will need to relearn life without her.

Arrangements were entrusted to Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, Waco, Texas.