Ophelia Elizabeth Conway(Joplin), 93, finished her race and stepped into heaven surrounded by her family on April 30, 2024. Ophelia was born in Milburn, Oklahoma on June 23, 1930 to Delbert Gail & Ada Lois (Perkins) Joplin.

When Ophelia was a young child, her family moved to Bromide where she was raised with her 9 siblings on the "home place". As the oldest daughter, Ophelia was heavily involved in raising her siblings and working with her dad doing outdoor chores. Her mother pushed her to be self-sufficient by encouraging her to use her skills to learn things and become accomplished at things on her own.

Following graduation from high school, Ophelia worked and trained as a nurse at Valley View Hospital where she completed the program as an LPN. She worked in the polio ward with children as an x-ray tech.

After marrying Voyd Smith, they moved to Pawhuska Oklahoma. Voyd was a teacher and in the early 60's he was recruited to Las Vegas, Nevada as they were building their young school system. After arriving in Las Vegas, Ophelia also began teaching. She completed her degree in education at UNLV in Las Vegas with some classes added through East Central during summertimes back in Oklahoma.

Ophelia's passion remained teaching. She taught elementary students for over 30 years. She was an active member of First Southern Baptist Church of Las Vegas where she taught children in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.

After her retirement, she continued to teach at church and also began teaching young inter-city teenagers how to sew as well as many family members.

Ophelia's had many interests and hobbies. She was an accomplished seamstress and quilter, a painter, a "master" gardener and in later years she did a lot of crocheting.

She remained in the Las Vegas community until 2018 when her health caused her to move to Oklahoma City to live with her daughter. She became a member of Graceway Baptist Church and was able to attend and worship there for a couple of years. She continued to enjoy watching her church services via livestream when her health no longer allowed her to attend. With all the things that her disease would not allow her to remember, one of the things she seemed to always remember was her commitment to serving the Lord and her desire to attend church.

Ophelia loved her family dearly. She was always quick to tell anyone she met that she was one of 10 children and she helped "raise" some of her brothers and sisters. She was so proud of the accomplishments of her brothers and sisters as she watched them impact their families, communities and the world.

One of the things she will always be remembered for is whether you were visiting her home or she was visiting your home, she was always quick to present you with a table full of good "home cooked" food along with plenty of desserts and snacks for between meals. Her grandkids referred to her as "Cookin Nana".

Ophelia was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; Voyd Smith & Carl Conway; son John "Eddy" Smith & six siblings; John Joplin, Margaret Perrin, Jack Joplin, Joe Joplin, Jerry Joplin and Glen Joplin.

She leaves behind her daughter Susan Marshall & her husband Dale of Oklahoma City and daughter-in-law, Mary Smith of Las Vegas, Nevada. 3 sisters; Ellen Marcy, Nelda Booker and Dixie Cooper. 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren in Oklahoma City. She also "adopted 2 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and 2 great great-grandchildren in Las Vegas when Eddy was married to Mary. As well as numerous other family members who loved her dearly.

The family would like to thank Oklahoma Hospice for their tremendous care and ministry.