Opal M. Loftis, of Gainesville, died July 16, 2010, after a brief illness. She was born June 13, 1918, in Oklahoma, and spent most of her life in Georgia. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother; and a Girl Scout cookie chairman, class mom, square-dancer, and cheerful and loyal friend. She retired from Macy’s, previously Davison’s, and for years delighted in travels and lunch get-togethers with her Macy’s friends. She was one of those lucky people who grow happier with age, inspiring all with her stubborn optimism. She lived independently until the end, and was proud of it. She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Estel E. “Ex” Loftis; daughter, Glenda Loftis Stokes; three brothers and two sisters. Left to celebrate her life are her daughter, Kay Lynn Loftis Pratt and son-in-law, Joe Pratt, of Loganville; son, Randy Lee Loftis and daughter-in-law, Gail D. “Tuppy” Loftis, of Richardson, TX; son-in law, Thomas G. Stokes, of Gainesville; grandchildren, Thomas G. Stokes Jr., Allison Stokes Sapp, Robert Stanley Stokes, Lacey Lambert Morris, Jared Lambert, Kyle D. Loftis, and Evan R. Loftis; nine great-grandchildren; and many friends earned over a lifetime. The family will receive visitors from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, at A.S. Turner & Sons, Decatur. Memorial service at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 22, at A.S. Turner & Sons. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or the Cystic Fibrosis – Reaching Out Foundation Inc.
