Steve Douglas Raper, 67, of the Hiwassee Dam community, passed away Saturday, May 11, 2019 in an Atlanta, Ga., hospital following an extended illness.
Steve had worked for Tennessee Chemical Company in the mines for many years. He later worked for IPI Industries as a pipefitter and welder. Steve was raised on the family farm and was on the tractor from a young age. He was proud of his farming heritage. Steve enjoyed fishing and Hiwassee Dam basketball. Steve was a member of the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.
He was the son of the late Jack Clifton and Gillie Mae Quinn Raper. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Barbara Ann Allen and Willa Lou Hedrick and two brothers, Clem and George Edward Raper.
Surviving are his wife of 48 years, Juanita Raper of Hiwassee Dam; two daughters, Julie Ann Raper Boring and husband, Tim of Hiwassee Dam and Stefanie Tanner and husband, Jason of Blairsville, Ga.,; four sisters, Nell Britt of Hiwassee Dam, Juanita Stiles of Woodstock, Ga., Sue Boring and husband, Pat of Hiwassee Dam, and Carol Picklesimer of Murphy; a brother, Paul Quinn Raper of Doraville, Ga.,; four grandchildren, Amber McDonald, Chelsea Foster, Dakota Sneed, and Seth Tanner; two great-grandchildren, Dax Foster and Deacon McDonald. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and his dog and sidekick, Sam.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church with the Revs. Jerry Morrow and Josh Ledford officiating.
The interment will be in Old Reid’s Chapel Cemetery. Pallbearers will be R.L. Howard, Matt Stiles, Michael Allen, Marshall Boring, Dakota Sneed, and Seth Tanner.
Honorary pallbearers will be Adam, Bob, and Bill Crisp, Ed and Phil Stiles, Leroy and James Hedrick, Eugene Morrow, Chris Britt, Keith Allen, Tony Graham, Israel Campbell, Cliff Raper, Jeff Hamby, and Joe Helton.
The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday, May 13, at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy.
Family requests memorials be made in memory of Steve Douglas Raper to: American Cancer Society, 154 Milestone Way, Greenville, SC 29615.
Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.
An online guest register is available at www.iviefuneralhomeinc.com.