James Robert Roper

James Robert Roper, 77, of Bollinger Loop, Morganton, NC died Monday, November 28, 2011 at Burke Palliative Care Center. Born in Burke County on May 11, 1934, he was a son of the late Robert Roper and Mary Lou Courtney Taylor and was a U.S. Army and N. C. National Guard veteran. James was an avid flower and vegetable gardener. He loved camping with his family. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Lou Cook Roper; a grandson, Joshua Roper; and a brother, John Roper.Surviving are his sons, Dennis Roper and his girlfriend, Danielle Collins and Chad Roper and his wife, Wendy all of Morganton; grandchildren, Jacob and Courtney Roper; a great grandchild, Ian Roper; brothers, Charles Roper and his wife, Tam of Palm Bay, FL and Ralph Roper and his wife, Rochelle of Bethlehem, NC; and sisters, Pearl Thomas and Ruby Buff both of Morganton.The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, December 1, 2011 at Nowlings Chapel Freewill Baptist Church with the Rev. Darvy Hensley officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes before the funeral hour. At other times the family will be at the Roper home on Bollinger Loop. Memorial gifts may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690 or to Palliative Care Center & Hospice of Catawba Valley 3975 Robinson Rd. Newton, NC 28658.