Opal Laney Ney February 24, 1928 – June 17, 2017
Opal Madeline Laney Ney, 89, of Bonner Springs, died June 17, 2017. Her private burial will be followed by a memorial service Saturday, June 24 at 10:30 A.M. at the Bonner Springs United Methodist Church. A visitation and musical tribute will begn at 10:00 A.M. prior to the service.

In many ways, Opal was an adult for most of her 89 years. She was born to a young mother at the end of the Roaring Twenties, and had to quickly grow up when her two younger siblings came along during the depression years. By the time she was three she was being sent to the grocery store down the street with money and a list pinned to her dress as her now-single mother worked to make ends meet and care for her family.

Times were tough in the Kansas City, Kansas neighborhoods where she was raised. "Gram" helped in the home and watched the kids while Opal's mother, Thelma, worked hard as a "Rosie the Riveter" and even owned a restaurant to make ends meet. The charity of kind, Kansas City, Kansas Public School teachers, and the Salvation Army helped Opal and her family thrive. Opal was a proud Bulldog, graduating in the Wyandotte High School class of 1946.

Various jobs at a photography shop, department store, and the brand new Russell Stover Company preceded a 67-year marriage to Elvis look-alike Dale Ney of rural Bonner Springs. To this union were born two sons: Timothy Dale and Randall Wayne. During the boys' formative years their mother was a stay at home mom. When Randy went to school Opal began a career as a library clerk in the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. She worked at many of the district elementary schools for about twenty years before spending nearly thirty years at Welborn Elementary. She loved her job most of the time, and she loved the kids and adults with whom she worked.

While the boys were young the family spent many summers at the KOA Campground near Salmon, Idaho they built, owned and ran. Dale was the idea man, and, as a professional carpenter, built everything. But it was Opal who ran the day-to-day operations: cleaning restrooms, keeping the books, running the store, booking float trips, and generally coaxing the business to success. They sold the business in the 1980's, but the stories and memories of those years and of that area of the country remained precious.

Opal was a fighter. She was the big sister to Kenneth and Gloria when young, and nurtured and defended them in the neighborhood. Independent, caring for others, and yet lots of fun, she empathized with those who had little. She was proud of the fact that she never smoked.

Opal was preceded in death in 2013 by her husband, Dale. She moved to independent senior living in Bonner Springs, then, in the last few months, to assisted living. She died June 17, 2017.

Opal is the last of her generation. She leaves a grateful family: Sons Tim (Jean) and Randy (Robin), grandchildren Katie, Josh, Shelby and Summer, and ten great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made be made to the Salvation Army; Bethel Community Center in Kansas City, Kansas; or the Bonner Springs United Methodist Church.