Pearl Opie Dies At Age 83
Sonora, CA– Well known organizer of the Mother Lode Roundup parade and longtime Sonora resident Pearl Opie died Wednesday. She was 83 and passed away after a long illness.
Since 1962 and continuing until May of this year, Opie was responsible for making sure that the annual Roundup parade started at precisely 10:00 am. Her late husband Jim Opie was also parade chairman from 1962 to 1975. Last year Pearl Opie was named 2009 Mother of the Year during Roundup weekend.
Opie attended San Jose State College where she earned her teaching degree. Her first teaching job brought her to Tuolumne County to teach at Summerville High School. She married her husband Jim in 1952 and had three children. When Opie’s first child was born, she left teaching to help Jim with his auto repair business, Jim’s Auto Service also known as Opie’s Garage.
There will be a rosary at Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home, Wednesday, at 7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Patrick’s Catholic Church Thursday, December 9th at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in remembrance of Pearl Opie to the Y.L.I. of St Patrick’s, 116 Bradford St, Sonora, CA 95370.
Written by tina.falco@mlode.com
