Opal Peters

Nona Opal Peters went to be with her Lord and Savior on November 6, 2022 at BeeHive Homes of Portales, NM. It was a beautiful Sunday morning to meet Jesus! It is difficult to summarize a life of 102 years and 11 months into just a few words. Opal was born on December 2, 1919, during a snowstorm to Mattie Bell Chaney & Daniel Oscar Jones. The doctor could not get there, and Opal’s grandmother delivered her at the family ranch between Capitan and Ruidoso. Opal was the middle child of five sisters and four brothers. Opal’s love of education began at the age of four in the one room schoolhouse at Angus. She and her siblings walked to school or rode the family horse. Opal accepted Christ in 1936 at a revival held by Ralph Hall in the one room schoolhouse. She graduated from Capitan High School in 1937 and attended Eastern New Mexico State University and received her Associates degree. While there, she served as the Eastern New Mexico University Rodeo Queen in 1938. She returned to Capitan and taught junior high and coached girls’ basketball for two years. Opal married LaMoyne Peters on June 2, 1941, in Roswell, New Mexico. They made their home between Capitan and Ruidoso, NM where they helped build the family ranch. She was a third grade teacher in Capitan for 25 years. She served as church secretary at the Capitan Nazarene Church, Nogal Mesa Ranchman’s Campmeeting, and Angus Nazarene Church for many years. Opal was a lifelong member of the Church of the Nazarene in Capitan and later in Angus. Opal loved to take walks and go for drives on Sunday afternoons to visit friends and loved ones in the area. Her home was her pride and joy, and she especially enjoyed watching and listening to the birds sing. Opal collected anything and everything relating to birds, especially cardinals, which were her favorite. Opal & LaMoyne read a devotional every morning after breakfast and prayed for the family, community, nation and many elected officials by name. One of Opal’s favorite books of the bible was James. Opal had 29 nieces and nephews that she loved dearly and did her best to stay active in their lives and she consistently prayed for her family and friends. She also had more students than she could count and would talk about many of them by name through the years. Her students, family and friends were near and dear to her heart. Opal was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years LaMoyne Peters, Opal’s parents Mattie Bell & Daniel Oscar Jones, LaMoyne’s parents Gil & Chloe Peters, Tyler Armstrong, and all her brothers and sisters and their spouses as well as several nieces and nephews. Opal is survived by her daughter Glenda Armstrong & husband Leslie of Fort Sumner, NM. Three grandchildren: Renee & Kevin Grant of Fort Sumner, Tanya Bequette & Landon Stevens of Fort Sumner, and Lynden Armstrong & Noah Cohen of Washington DC. Four great grandchildren: Kyra & Justin Monzingo of Fort Sumner, Rhett & Makayla Grant of Amarillo, TX, and Kenzie Bequette & Kagan Bequette of Fort Sumner, NM. She is also survived by Dara Jackson (Matt) and family of Midland, TX, Chet Armstrong (Todie), Justin Armstrong (Rahime) and Wyatt Armstrong of Hagerman, NM, and Marty Armstrong (Michaela), Trenton Armstrong (Jasmine), Amber Lopez (Chazton) and family, and Taylor Cochrane (Seth) and family of Roswell, NM. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, students, and friends. The family would like to thank the staff of BeeHive Homes of Portales for their excellent care and support over the last several years. Visitation will be Friday, November 11, 2022 at First Baptist Church of Fort Sumner beginning at 10:00 AM. Services will follow at 11:00 AM Friday, November 11, 2022 at First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner, NM with Dr. Joe Bunce officiating. Services will be livestreamed via First Baptist Church of Fort Sumner Facebook page and YouTube Channel. A second service will be held in Angus, New Mexico on Saturday, November 12, 2022. Visitation will be held at the Old Angus School House located at Angus Cemetery from 11:00 AM to noon. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 PM at Angus Church of The Nazarene with Pastor Rick Hutchison officiating. Interment will follow at Angus Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Dave Cox, Paul Garber, Matt Midgett, Rick Richardson, Rex Wilson, Reed Wheeler, Ross Miller, and Preston Stone. Honorary pallbearers will include her many students, church family, Nogal Mesa Ranchman’s Campmeeting family, and the staff of BeeHive Homes of Portales. The family requests memorial contributions in memory of Opal Peters be given to Nogal Mesa Ranchman’s Camp Meeting, Box 86, Nogal, New Mexico 88341 or Bonita Park and Conference Center, 200 Bonita Park Road, Angus, NM 88316. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, NM. (575) 355-2311.