Mr. Max Eugene Roper, age 88, passed away on December 18th. Born June 15, 1927 in Springfield, Missouri, he was one of 4 children born to Omar (Pat) and Alma (O'Connell) Roper.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 20 years, Sandy Roper. He graduated from Senior High School in Springfield, Missouri, and University of Missouri-Rolla with a degree in mechanical engineering. After serving with distinction in the United States Army during the Korean War, he went on to a career as a mechanical engineer for many significant companies including Ford Motor Co, Reyco Industries and 3M Company. He had many passions, including golf, table tennis and politics, to name a few. More importantly he was a devoted and loving father to six children - Michelle Herring (H.T.), Mike (Susy), Ron (Laura), Sylvia Dunn (Jim), Cyndi Roper (David Holtz) and John. His family included many grandchildren - Catherine Wilgus; Matthew Roper; Julia and Zach Cooley; Lauren and Nathan Fraker; Courtney and AJ Copeland; Lindsey Skidmore; Kellon and Shannon Johnston-Roper. Great-grandchildren included - Emery, Willa, Griffin Roper; Caleb and Cayden Cooley; Brooklyn Copeland.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Mary Jean (Cunningham), brothers Phillip Leon, Omar Martin Jr., and his granddaughter Ashley Nichole Skidmore. He is survived by his only sister, Martha Anne (Roper) Smith of Springfield. After Jean passed in 1994, Max married Sandy (Mitchell) Roper in 1996. He was a loving step-father to Tammi Wilder (Lee) and children; Gregg Mitchell (Christi) and children; Mindee Bacon (Doug) and children; and many great-grandchildren.
Services are under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Visitation will be held at Gorman-Scharpf on Monday, December 21st at 1:00pm, with services at 2:00pm. Graveside services, with military honor, will be held at 10:00am on Tuesday, December 22nd at Hazlewood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.