Published: May 12, 2008 09:28 am            

A century of Mother's Days

America’s Favorite Mom for 2008 has seen 100 Mother’s Days.

Opal Trundle will turn 100 years old on May 11, the centennial anniversary of Mother’s Day.

In 1907 Oklahoma became a state.

In 1908 Opal was born in Okemah on May 11, the first Mother’s Day ever.

Her oldest granddaughter Connie Libby nominated Opal for America’s Favorite Mom in February. Libby saw the ad for America’s Favorite Mom in Woman’s Day magazine. She submitted an essay about Opal to the contest.

Libby was born on Opal’s 43rd birthday, May 11, 1951. She told about both their Mother’s Day birthdays in the story. Libby described her grandmother as witty and full of energy.

The judges chose Opal for America’s Favorite Mom.

NBC’s Today show is running a special Mother’s Day broadcast called “Teleflora Presents America’s Favorite Mom.” The show will feature Opal and her story. At the film shoot, family members told about Opal’s life and how she had influenced them through the years.

“She always makes lemonade out of lemons,” said Libby.

Opal lives at Meadowbrook Nursing Home in Chouteau. Activity and social services director Pam Ray said the nursing home staff is proud of Opal. Ray told Opal she was America’s Favorite Mom.

“You girls will change your mind,” replied Opal.

While Opal was being interviewed, Ray repeated, “You’re America’s favorite mom!”

“No....” smiled Opal. She said at last, “I’ll take your word for it.”

Opal’s youngest son, Jim Trundle, remembers her telling how she rode in wagons as a girl. Opal, the oldest of 12 children, attended high school at Adair through her junior year. She married Morris Trundle in 1926, when they were both 17. Opal and Morris had six children together.

“She’s a giver,” said Jim. “All her life she’s been there for us kids.”

Opal worked at home her entire life, except for running a laundromat a short while. Morris worked for the railroad and became a policeman after retiring. He died in 1975, when they were 67.

Opal grew up on a farm in Salina. A family named Hayes lived on the adjoining farm. Their son Coy, who was three or four years older than Opal, was her first sweetheart.

“He never forgot her,” Libby said.

Years after Morris died, Hayes called Opal to tell her that his wife had died. They began courting, and Opal married Hayes when she was 85-years-old.

While they were married, Hayes bought the farm where Opal lived as a child. Her old homeplace is now a working farm and dairy, operated by Hayes’ son. When Libby came back to Pryor for a visit, Opal and Hayes showed her the farms where they grew up together.

“She was determined that I get a Cherokee Nation card,” said Libby. Opal and her husband took Libby to visit the Cherokee tribunal building at Tahlequah. After touring the building and learning the history, Libby signed up to get her card.

Hayes and Opal were married until he died in 2003. Opal drove until she was 93. She lived on her own until three years ago, when she came to Meadowbrook.

Opal has 17 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great grandchildren.

“Oh my, I haven’t even counted,” replied Opal when asked the number of her grandchildren. She said her family comes to see her when they are in town.

The morning of the film shoot, Opal’s snow-white hair lay in neat waves around her head. She wore a fuchsia dress with a corsage of pink roses pinned beside her collar. She refused to put in her teeth.

As the broadcast crew readied their equipment, Jim asked his mother, “Are you excited?”

“No!” replied Opal.

At one point she threatened to put her head under the table if they tried to film her.

“The last four or five years, she just wanted to live to be 100,” said Jim.

Opal studied the movie camera as her grandson Jimmy Trundle spoke with producer Shawn Dunsun.

“That camera’s all right,” she said, “but they should have got a bigger one.”

Opal and Libby are sharing a birthday celebration together, along with numerous family members who are coming for the occasion.

“She’s blessed!” said Libby. “And so are we.”

        

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