Julia Ophelia Funk Garrett VerSteegh, age 87 of Katy, Texas, and formerly of Malvern, where she was affectionately known as Ophelia, died Saturday, November 4, 2017 in Katy. She was born in a two room house on the banks of Bayou Bartholomew in Mer Rouge, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana on October 21, 1930 to the late E. B. Funk and Maudie Ruth Sulton Funk. Reared and receiving her early education in Malvern and Hot Spring County, she was a public school teacher for many years, in Arkansas and Texas. She later taught adults, who she thought were not as easy to work with as children. The saving grace, she said, was working in the library, where she was able to meet people from all over the world. With her personality, she never met a "stranger".

She was a founding member of the Mason Road Assembly of God Church, and when she was unable to attend anymore due to her health, she found a new ministry by becoming a Prayer Warrior. Many people from near and far would call upon her to pray for them and they would call and update her when the prayer requests were answered. Many would say prayers were answered, not always the way they wanted, but answered in God's way.

Ophelia always said she did not want a sad event upon her death, but instead wanted it to be a celebration of life, with bright colors and happiness. She is now celebrating with loved ones, both family and friends, that have gone before her.

Ophelia was also preceded in death by her husbands, Sidney Garrett, Jr., and Robert VerSteegh; and by her siblings, Walt Funk, Doyle Funk, and Vernell Funk Rood.

She is survived by her four children, Esther Griffin and her husband Mark, Beverlee Smith, and Sidney Garrett, III and his wife, Marilyn, all of Malvern, and Kimberly Herring and her husband Mark of Katy, Texas; by nine grandchildren, Angela Van Pelt, Ilenee Tedford, Kathy Bass, Joseph Van Pelt, Erik Garrett, Stephanie Korwes, Ashton Herring, MacKenzie Herring, and Mark Herring, Jr.; and nine great-grandchildren.

Her funeral will be held at eleven o'clock Saturday morning, November 11, 2017 in the chapel of J. A. Funk Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Lono Cemetery.

Visitation will precede the service, beginning at ten o'clock.

Memorials are requested to the Lono Cemetery Association, c/o Tammy Harrell, 1959 Gray Loop, Leola, AR 72084.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.