Roy

Tupelo - Roy Lawrence Raper, 94, died Saturday, July 24, 2010, at Tupelo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born August 4, 1915 in the Unity Community, east of Saltillo, to Dexter and Fannie Horton Raper. He was a longtime resident of Lee County, living in the Mt. Vernon Community and Tupelo. He retired from Blue Bell after 20 years of employment. Afterwards, he went to work at Pennsylvania Tire before retiring at the age of 63. He returned to work for Lift Inc and the All American Hotel before his final retirement. He was a Baptist and enjoyed going to church, faithfully attending East Heights Baptist Church until his health failed him. An outdoors person, he loved gardening and making wood products.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday, July 26, 2010 at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Tim Roaten officiating. A private committal will follow at Old Union Cemetery in Belden.

Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Montez Raper of Tupelo; one daughter, Nancy Sparks (Jimmy); two sons, Edward Raper (Sue) and Danny Raper (Dixie); two step-daughters, Barbara Duerson (Calvin) and Debra Webb (Tim); one sister, Bessie Brown; two brothers, Elkin Raper (Idell) and Ottis Raper (Margaret); nine grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Bernice Richey and Blanche Green; one brother, Leonard Raper; his first wife, Pauline Clayon Raper.

Pallbearers will be Rusty Sparks, Philip Raper, Terry Merrell, Tim Webb, Mark Burt and Bradley Webb.

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com