She was immensely loved, she will be profoundly missed and forever treasured by the eighty-six who survive her. Wilma was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great- and great-great-grandmother. In addition to her parents, Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert, Ja sister, Opal Young brothers, Lonnie Ferguson and Harry Ferguson daughter-in-law, Darlene Roper sons-in-law, Larry Beard and Kenneth Steele and great-granddaughter, Stella Beard.

She was also active in P.E.O., Chapter FI, Ladies of Kiwanis, Cherete Study Club, Woman's Club and was an avid bridge player. Wilma was active in the First Presbyterian Church, where she served as Sunday school teacher, president of the Women's Association, Curtis Club and Circle member, elder, and she helped start an effort to provide back-to-school clothes for children, a program that eventually evolved into Crosslines Ministries. Sharing a common love for travel, their adventures took them far and wide including most of the lower forty-eight states, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, much of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Panama and Russia. In 1958, Gilbert and Wilma established Roper Pontiac Inc. Partnerships in the Sarcoxie Bank and Triangle Motor Co. The farming enterprise would eventually grow to include 900 acres. They began share-crop farming on rented land and in 1941 purchased their first 100-acre farm for $3000, loaned to them by their veterinarian on the condition they put a well in on the property. They started their 68 years together by purchasing a span of mules and a milk cow and began farming and raising their children. Wilma met Gilbert Roper, the love of her life, at a yard party. Her employment was offered with the provision that she attend summer classes at Springfield Teachers College (now Missouri State University) and pass an eight-hour Teacher Certification Test administered at the Jasper County Court House, in Carthage MO, prior to the start of the fall classes in 1933. In Spring 1933, Wilma secured a teaching job at Erie School, a one-room school for a salary of $45 a month for the 1933-34 school year. Her extracurricular activities included piano lessons, tap dance lessons, elocution lessons and playing second violin in the Carthage High School Orchestra. She graduated from Carthage High School in 1932. Wilma attended Reeds Public School in a two-room schoolhouse. Wilma was born September 23, 1914, in Reeds, MO, to Walter David and Linnet (Watson) Ferguson.

Wilma Esther Roper, of Joplin, MO, passed away Decemfollowing 105 years of life filled with hugs and kisses, lots of home-cooked meals and celebrations of everyday living.

Joplin 2.12.19 downloading