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Leroy Gene Roper Sep 25, 1928 - Mar 1, 2026
Posted by Jo Aguirre
Leroy Gene Roper was born September 25, 1928 in Cheyenne, Oklahoma to Violet
(Hunt) Roper and Luna Lee Roper. He passed away Sunday, March 1, 2026 in
Copperas Cove, Texas at the age of 97 years, 5 months, and 4 days.
Gene was raised by his grandmother, Artie Elizabeth Hunt. He attended school at
Bulo Community where he graduated from the 8th grade. When Gene was 13 years
old, he left home and went to work for a neighboring rancher. When Gene was 15,
he left the ranch and moved to the Texas panhandle where his aunt and uncle Zada
and Ray Proctor helped him find work driving a truck in the oilfield. WWII had
begun and Gene worked several trucking jobs that took him from Texas to
California between the ages of 15 and 17.
On August 14, 1946, Gene enlisted in the United States Army Air Force in Enid,
Oklahoma. He was sent to Boca Raton Army Air Field where he received training as
a radar repairman. While Gene was training at Boca Raton, hurricanes struck the
base on two separate occasions. He told stories of surviving with little rations
and taking turns standing in water or sitting on the top bunks with fellow
soldiers. After training, Gene was stationed in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska
where he helped install radars used as defense against potential invasion. He
achieved the rank of Corporal and was awarded an honorable discharge on June 1,
1949.
Gene returned to Sayre, Oklahoma where he worked as a roughneck in the oilfield
for several years. During this time, he was introduced to the love of his life,
Elena Beth Harrington. They were married on September 28, 1952 at Elena’s
parents home in Grimes, Oklahoma. Gene and Elena had 73 wonderful years together
and had two daughters, Cynthia Sue Roper and Debra Lee (Roper) McCarther. Gene
loved his family and shared a close relationship with his children,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren making many trips to Texas to share
holidays and special events together.When their second daughter was born in 1954, the family moved to Wichita, Kansas
where Gene worked at Boeing Aircraft assembling aircraft for about three years.
They decided to return to Oklahoma around 1958. They lived in Berlin for about
two years and then moved to Sayre, Gene began working for his uncle, Jay
Thompson, in Jay's TV and electric motor repair shop. When Jay passed in 1968,
Gene purchased the business from his aunt Ruby Thompson and continued to rewind
and repair electric motors at Gene’s Electric Motor Service until his
retirement.Gene studied the Bible with a close friend, Calvin Cook, and was baptized into
the body of Christ. He became a faithful member of the Sayre Church of Christ
where he served actively.
Gene was preceded in death by his grandmother, Artie Hunt; his mother, Violet
(Hunt) Lowrence; his brother, Wallace Neil Roper; his sister, Jimmie Janette
(Roper) Roland, and his grandson, Mark Elliot McCarther.
He is survived by his wife, Elena Beth (Harrington) Roper; his daughter, Cynthia
Sue Roper of Abilene, Texas; his daughter and son-in-law, Debra Lee (Roper)
McCarther and Robert McCarther of Lampasas, Texas; his granddaughter and husband
Malorie Beth (McCarther) Arellano and Adam Arellano of Lampasas, Texas; his
grandson, Eric McCarther of Lampasas, Texas and five great-grandchildren Emma
Beth (Arellano) Callihan and husband Zachary Callihan, Marley Brynn Arellano,
Harley Quinn Arellano, Silas James Arellano, Avril Marie McCarther, and a host
of other friends and relatives
Viewing
Thursday, March 5, 2026
9:00AM - 9:00PM
Affordable Cremations Service - West Sayre
701 Iowa Ave
Sayre, OK 73662
Funeral
Friday, March 6, 2026
Sayre Church of Christ
502 North 6th Street
Sayre, OK 73662
Interment
Friday, March 6, 2026
3:00PM - 4:00PM
Lone Oak Cemetery
18100 E 1170 Rd
Sayre, OK 73662
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