Steve Douglas Raper: Obituary

Steve Douglas Raper

Steve Douglas Raper, 67, of the Hiwassee Dam Community, passed away Saturday, May 11, 2019 in an Atlanta, Georgia 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, Georgia; four sisters, Nell Britt of Hiwassee Dam, Juanita Stiles of Woodstock, Georgia, Sue Boring and husband, Pat of Hiwassee Dam, and Carol Picklesimer of Murphy; a brother, Paul Quinn Raper of Doraville, Georgia; 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 were held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church with Rev. Jerry Morrow and Rev. Josh Ledford officiating. The interment was in Old Reid’s Chapel Cemetery. Pallbearers were Dakota Sneed, Seth Tanner, R.L. Howard, Matt Stiles, Michael Allen, and Marshall Boring. Honorary pallbearers were 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 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, May 13th at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy where the body remained until placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the services.

Family requests memorials be made in memory of Steve Douglas Raper to the American Cancer Society, 154 Milestone Way, Greenville, SC 29615.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.