Beverly Jean Opie

Beverly Jean (Bray) Opie passed away on January 16, 2024. Beverly was born March 31, 1931 in Butte to Richard and Katie (Hallahan) Bray. She joined her two older brothers Richie and Tommy. She attended St Joseph’s Grade School and Girls Central High School. Following high school, Bev worked at Hennessy’s in the layaway department. She married William (Bill) Opie on August 31, 1954. Together they had one daughter Katherine (Kathy). Bev had a strong willed, charismatic personality; selfless demeanor; and an aura that could not be matched. She consistently carried this presence with her throughout her life. Her strong will was interpreted by some including her brothers as being ‘bold’ (not the complimentary meaning). Today, strong willed women are considered assertive which Bev most certainly was. She lived her life on her own terms right down to the end. Those who knew her would agree she was truly one of a kind! Bev had a ‘can do’ attitude and would not let anyone or anything get in her way once she set her mind to something. As a young mother, a comment was made to her about her drinking beer. She told that person that she would never have another drink and she didn’t. She swore that when she quit drinking she put her brother out of a job at the Butte Brewing Company as they went out of business shortly thereafter. This was one of the last stories she told her ICU nurse as she was asking him to get her a beer or whiskey. In her 50’s she became an avid walker in order to get in better shape. She consistently walked 3 – 4 miles every morning regardless of weather. She continued this regime into her late 80’s. She developed many relationships with both people and dogs along her walking route. Her ‘can do’ attitude presented again when her husband Bill passed away on April 2, 1990. Prior to his passing, she had never driven. She knew driving would be a necessity now as she needed to continue providing daycare for her young grandsons. Bev took it upon herself to learn how to drive by practicing driving around the block in the early morning hours. At the age of 59 she took her driving test and passed the first time! Bev was truly the family matriarch for immediate and extended family. She was a born caretaker and probably should have been a nurse but instead shared her skills selflessly with family and friends. She cared for her mother and brother until they passed. She made hot homemade soup several times a week for her aunt who was in the nursing home and would catch the bus to bring it to her as she didn’t drive at the time. She was so happy to visit her long time neighbor and friend Tom to put drops in his eyes and see if he needed anything. Her ‘best job ever’ was providing daycare for her three grandsons. As they grew, she loved going to all their activities from school programs, parades, and sporting events, to graduations and weddings. She was so proud of them and was their biggest (and loudest) cheerleader but would give a reprimand when deserved regardless of their age. One of Bev’s favorite pastimes was playing bingo. Her and her longtime friend Dixie Mock went to the KC every Monday night and then Wednesdays to the Elks for years. She still looked for boards that had her favorite number ‘61’ and Dixie’s favorite ‘68’ (in the right spots of course) when playing bingo at the Belmont Senior Center. She also enjoyed going on gambling trips and watching sports of any kind on TV although hockey was her favorite. She and Bill were one of the original fans of the Butte Copper Kings hockey team. A highlight for her was a family trip to Denver to watch her favorite team, the Colorado Avalanche, play the Pittsburgh Penguins which was her grandsons’ favorite team. There was a bit of rivalry in the stands that night! Her passion became volunteering once the boys no longer needed daycare. Bev volunteered at the Lady of the Rockies gift shop, Butte Convalescent Center, St Ann’s church where she brought Holy Communion to folks in the nursing home and assisted living centers, and assisted Father Dornbos with Mass at the Convalescent Center to name a few. She was a devout Catholic her entire life. In her last years, going to the Belmont Senior Center everyday for lunch and activities was the highlight of her day and surely was what kept her going for so long. She made many friends there and so appreciated and enjoyed all the employees who treated her like gold especially her bus driver Greg. Bev will be deeply missed by her family and friends whose lives she touched. We are so grateful that we were able to have her in our lives for so long and that she was able to stay independent until the end. A special thank you to Diane McLaughlin who was so special to her and her neighbors (the DeJohns, Janie, and Cathy) who watched out for her and made sure she was safe thus allowing her to continue to live independently. Bev was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill, sister Ellen, brothers Richie and Tommy, and her special friend John McMillen who was her companion for twenty plus years. She is survived by her daughter Kathy and son-in-law Larry Curran; grandsons Chris (Christina and great granddaughter Rylee), Matt (Britney) and Shaun (Nicole) Curran; Nephew Tom (Kim) Bray and family. Cremation has taken place. Funeral mass will be celebrated Friday, February 2, 2024 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church at 11 am with visitation starting at 10:00 am. Internment of ashes will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Belmont Senior Center 615 E Mercury St Butte MT, Maroon Athletics PO Box 634 Butte MT, or a charity of donor’s choice.

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Beverly Jean Opie

March 31, 1931 - January 16, 2024