Opal Jean Baker

Opal Jean (Teague) Baker, 71, passed Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Martin County Hospital following a short battle with cancer. Services will be held Friday, January 23, 2015 at 2;00 PM at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel, with her nephew, Rev. Bruce Cook, officiating. Burial will follow at Lamesa Memorial Park in Lamesa, Texas.The family will receive visitors Thursday, January 22, 2015 from 6;00 PM to 8:00 PM at Nalley-Pickle and Welch Funeral Home.Opal Jean was born March 19, 1943 to Robert and Opal Teague in Lamesa. As a child, her family moved between Lamesa and Hobbs, New Mexico before settling in Big Spring in 1956. She graduated from Big Spring High School in 1961 and married her childhood sweetheart, James Baker, on June 11 of 1961 in Lamesa. James was in the Army and so Opal Jean began the life of an Army wife that day. During the early years of their marriage, Opal Jean was able to travel the U.S. and go with James to France and Germany. It was during their second deployment to Germany, in 1971, that they decided to adopt their son, Scott. Four years later their daughter, Roxanna, was born while they were stationed at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina. Opal Jean was a devoted mother and wife.When her husband retired from the Army in 1979, the family settled in Big Spring. In 1981 Opal Jean went to work for the Big Spring State Hospital. She found her career there. After working in different positions, Opal Jean became an Art Therapist. Opal Jean always had a talent for art and it came naturally for her to work in a position that allowed her to care for others and also allowed her to share her love of art with her patients. Aside from being a mother and wife, Opal Jean’s talent as an artist defined who she was as a person.After her retirement from the State Hospital, she spent time working on different arts and crafts that gave her much enjoyment. She also worked for a battered women’s shelter. This became a cause dear to her as it called to the caretaker she was.In 2006, she welcomed her only grandchild into the world. Opal Jean has spent the last 9 years fulfilling her role as Granny to her heart’s content. When she wasn’t spending time with her Connor, she enjoyed gardening, crocheting, reading, art of any kind and caring for her pets.Opal Jean is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Roxanna and Shane Thedford and her grandson Connor Thedford, all of Big Spring; her adopted son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Frances Baker, of Brownwood; her sister and brother-in-law Joyce and Ronnie Covert of Big Spring, sister Linda Covert of Lubbock and sister Judy Parker of Coleman. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, in-laws and close family friends Ulla Thomas of South Carolina, Shirley Parker of Big Spring, and Elaine Sepeda and her children Olivia and Angelo whom she loved like a daughter and grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her husband James and her parents Opal and Robert Teague.The family would like to acknowledge and thank the following for the care they helped provide to Opal Jean in her final days, her nieces Lori Shaw, Alicia Keaton and Bonnie Keaton; Sheri, KC and the staff of Family Medical Center, and finally the doctors, nurses and staff at Martin County Hospital.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences may be made at: www.npwelch.com ,