Graveside services for Opal Niles Dickey will be held 9:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, 2015 at Bosqueville Cemetery with Rev. Jim Cox officiating. A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 7, 2015 at the funeral home. Opal Niles Dickey was born in Waco, Texas on November 3, 1920 to Thomas Edward and Bessie Haygood Niles. She was the youngest of three siblings, Lloyd Niles, Stephen Niles, and Violet Seals. Being the youngest and smallest of the siblings, her siblings nicknamed her "Mutt". She attended Gurley schools and graduated from Waco High School in 1939. During her teenage years, Opal, her sister Violet, and her mother Bessie would often sing as a backup group for the many singers that appeared on WACO radio in the early 40's. Opal would serve as a hostess for the USO in Waco, and in 1942 she met and married John A. Dickey, Jr. on March 22. John was in the Army Air Force and was stationed at Blackland AAFB and at Waco Air Training Center, where he was being trained as a bomber pilot. Opal and John had one son, John Edward , and shortly after he was born in 1944, they moved to Dallas. The family returned to Waco in November, 1959. In 1960 Opal began working at Waco High School as the girls attendance secretary, then later went to work for the WISD Visiting Teacher Service, and retired after 20 years. Her husband John also retired from General Tire after 22 years.They started their own crafts business, The Dickey's, and traveled across the state to the various craft shows and county fairs. Her handcrafted jewelry and hand painted umbrellas were very popular at those events. One of their favorite events was the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup, where after 32 years, they became that event's longest returning vendor. Opal had a large collection of dolls as well as all types of redbird pictures, figurines, plates and glass. She also loved her many pets over the years. Opal was preceded in death by her parents, siblings and then her husband, John , after 65 years of marriage together. She is survived by her son, John and his wife, Myra; two grandchildren, Chris Dickey and wife, Jennifer and Paula Becker and husband, Brandon; two great grandchildren, Brianne Wilson and Jase Brown. The family extends a special appreciation to the Lake Shore Healthcare Center in Waco for their loving care while Opal was there. Please sign the guestbook at bellmeadfuneralhome.com