Dr. Opal Sweet Dozier Reed

Graveside services for Dr. Opal Sweet Dozer Reed, 99, of Kilgore will be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at the Starrville Cemetery, with Reverend Bradley Reed officiating. Mrs. Reed passed away on Friday, January 1, 2021, in Longview.


Opal was born on November 23, 1921, in Cameron, Texas. She was the daughter of the late Silas Lynn and Janie Lillian Lewis. Mrs. Reed resided in Kilgore for 68 years, she was well known as Opal Dozier. Opal was director of nurses at Stone Road Nursing Center and Kilgore Nursing Center. She taught nursing at Kilgore College for many years, she wrote two books on nursing. Opal had several degrees in nursing and her Ph.D. in Psychology. She was a member of the Kilgore Missionary Baptist Church.


Opal is survived by her children, John Andrew Sweet of Caldwell, TX, Opal Faye (Sweet) Staples of Carthage TX, Clara Jane Sweet of Spring, TX, and Rhonda Gail (Dozier) Blanchard of Killeen, TX; one sister, Jane Stone of Bellmead, TX; 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and husbands, Andrew Sweet, Wallace Dozier, and Clyde Reed.