Inez Roper(Tulia)

Tulia, Texas--Inez Roper was born June 13, 1918 to Lee and Thelma Baker of Olustee, OK. She died peacefully on December 9, 2008, in Plano, TX at the Creekside Alzheimer’s Special Care Center surrounded by family, Creekside caregivers, and St. Michael’s Hospice staff. The majority of her school days were spent in Wichita Falls and Hale Center. Inez married Preston Roper in the First Methodist Church parsonage in Plainview on August 10, 1935. They made their first home on a Roper family farm southeast of Plainview until they subsequently purchased a Phillip’s 66 service station and wrecking yard in 1944. In 1951, they moved to Tulia where they owned a wheat and cotton farm and grew pecans to share with the community; later they also raised disease-free hogs. Inez and Preston were faithful and active members of the First United Methodist Church of Tulia. Inez was involved with the Lakeview Home Demonstration Club, DeMolay Mothers, Tulia High School band, and 4-H Club. With her remarkable involvement in agriculture, Inez kept active interests in crop prices, politics, and farm/ranch programs throughout her life. She was a passionate advocate of higher education and was a devoted supporter of Tulia School activities. Due to increasing healthcare needs, Inez moved to Plano in 2001, to be nearer family. She was predeceased by the death of her spouse of fifty-seven years, Preston, in April, 1992; her father, Homer Lee Baker, August, 1981; her mother, Thelma Cox, in 1990, her brother, Shelby 2006; a host of Roper in-laws; and treasured friends. Inez’s survivors include her children and their spouses: Doug Roper and his wife, LaJean, Broken Arrow, OK; Thelma Roper Bianco of Knoxville, TN; and Gay Roper and her husband, Bob Doan, Frisco, TX. Additionally, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren also survive her: Rodney Roper, and his wife Karla, and their children, Hunter and Hayley Roper, and Jacob Hicks, Jenks, OK; Cari McLarty, and her husband, Steven, Broken Arrow, OK; Lisa Dyar, and her husband, Greg, Austin, TX, and their children, Andrew Preston, Peter Dillard, and Thomas James; Amy Lorenz, and her husband, Patrick Erin, Frisco, TX, and their children, Catherine Erin, Allison Gay, and Luke Patrick; Matthew Wallace Doan, and his wife, Alexandra, Houston, TX, and their children, John Wallace and Sarah Elizabeth; and Patrick Allen Doan and Meredith Barker, Blacksburg, VA; thirty nieces and nephews. A celebration service in memory of Inez’s life will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Tulia at 2 PM, Saturday, December 13, 2008, with The Rev. Jim Smith, Associate Pastor of St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church, Amarillo, and The Rev. Kay Reed, Pastor of First United Methodist Church officiating. Arrangements are scheduled through Kornerstone Funeral Directors. Burial will be immediately after the service in Rose Hill Cemetery. Friends are cordially invited to visitation with Inez’s family held at Kornerstone from 7 PM to 8 PM, Friday, December 12. Pallbearers will be Rodney Roper, Hunter Roper, Steven McLarty, Greg Dyar, Patrick Lorenz, and Matthew Doan. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests contribution be may be made in memory of Inez to First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 330, Tulia, TX, 79088. Telephone number for the church is 806.995.3713.