Opal Marie

Gayhart

Opal Marie Cates Skinner Gayhart was born on July 18, 1937 in Cushing, Oklahoma to Jess and Lizzie Cates. Opal attended Hillside Elementary school and Cushing High School.

Opal married Herbert Ted Skinner in 1955 and together had three children. Tony, Cheryl and Greg. When Herb became terminally ill Opal began nursing school. After Herb’s death in 1990, she became an LPN and began work at the Cushing Hospital. Opal married Junior Allen Gayhart in 1992. They traveled the world with his pipeline job, and experienced many places, which included Malaysia and Brazil.

Opal is proceeded in death by her husbands Herb Skinner and Junior Gayhart. Two sons, Douglas Joe Skinner and Tony Skinner. Her parents Jess Elmond Cates and Lizzie L. Cates. Opal is also proceeded in death by her sisters Juanita Kirkpatrick, Irene Pack, Kathleen Harrison, Earnestine Pershing, Lorene Franklin, Sylivia Meyerdirk and one brother Vivan Cates.

Opal is survived by one sister, Connie Goin. She is also survived by her children. Cheryl Johnson and her husband Skip and family in Broken Arrow, OK. Greg Skinner and wife Connie and family in Ada, Oklahoma, Tony’s wife Donna Skinner and children in McAlester, Oklahoma. Opal is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Stepchildren who preceded Opal in death are Monica Cochran and husband, Ray and Joe Gayhart. Opal is survived by Bronk Gayhart and Joe Gayhart’s wife, Penny along with four grandkids and four great-great-grandkids.

Funeral services will be 2:00 pm on Monday, November 16, 2026, at the Council Valley Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Euchee Valley Memorial Park Cemetery.