George Edward Roper

George Edward Roper was born on February 22, 1941, in Amarillo, Texas to Monroe George Roper and Lissie Virginia Williams Roper. He died on August 2, 2025, at the age of 84 at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Grapevine, Texas, after a fall and injury to his head.

His family moved to western Oklahoma in 1951 when he was 10 years old. He grew up in Clinton, Oklahoma, and graduated from Clinton High School in 1959. George worked at a number of local businesses throughout High School. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 361 and became an Eagle Scout. He eventually was a Scout Leader for his sons’ troops. George played football for the Clinton Red Tornados and appeared in drama productions.

George met his sweetheart, Sarah Jean McDonough, in junior high and they were married in 1959. They moved to Oklahoma City to run a home delivery milk route for Borden’s Milk Company. Two years later they returned to Clinton where he was hired as a meat cutter at Puckett’s Food Store. He also worked for United Supermarkets as a butcher in Clinton, Elk City and Sayre. In 1963, they bought the retail and wholesale Borden’s Milk routes in Cordell. Eventually, he sold the route to his father, Monroe Roper, and became the Meat Market Manager for Hardin’s Food Center in Clinton. He enjoyed this job very much as he was able to meet and converse with many citizens of Clinton. He told many Hardin’s stories for the rest of his life. He also created some delicious recipes for chili and sausage.

In 1973, he went to work for Tony’s Pizza as a route salesman in Stroud, Oklahoma where his territory covered Central Oklahoma. Within two years, he earned numerous awards and was promoted to Sales Manager over the state of New Mexico and southern Colorado. He moved the family to Belen, New Mexico and served as Manager for depots in Belen and Alamogordo, NM and Pueblo, CO. where he supervised eight wholesale routes and three retail routes.

George and Sarah returned to Cordell, OK in 1982 where he became a Night Manager for Smith Oil Company Truck Stop. Sarah began working at the Sears Catalog Store and then Cordell Memorial Hospital in the Billing Department where she worked for 20 years until her death in 2009. In 1984, George was hired as Account Executive for KECO Radio in Elk City, OK. He was promoted to General Manager and was co-host on the morning show “Coffee Time” with Bill Coleman. KECO had $750,000 in billings plus carried 60% of the listening audience during any hour. George left the station in 1993 when it was sold, and he became “retired”.

During “retirement”, George served on the Cordell Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (2 years as President), member of Cordell Rotary Club (1 year as President), Cordell Airport Manager (2 years) and then On-Site Project Manager for the remodel and restoration of the Washita Movie Theatre which he completed with great pride. He also worked as the Swimming Pool Manager and helped organize and work the Cordell Pumpkin Festival for many years which was one of his favorite events. For many years, he served as City Councilman for the City of Cordell and was involved with the Clinton High School Alumni Association (7 years as President) where they hosted two all-school reunions in 2003 and 2008. He took great pride in representing his school, the class of ‘59 and the Clinton Red Tornadoes. In 1997, he earned his Real Estate License and sold real estate until 2009.

George and Sarah are the parents of George Anthony “Tony” and fiancée Janell Kinnamon, of Stroud, OK; Cheryl Denise Roper Padilla and husband, Paul, of Fort Worth, TX; Bradley Alan Roper and husband, Steven Carrell, of El Reno, OK and Scott Marshall Roper and wife, Ruby, of Amarillo, TX. They have 15 grandkids – Adrianne Roper Conley of Del City, OK; George Justin Roper of Clinton, OK; Lucy Roper and wife, Brittney, of Clinton, OK; Maggie Neu of Ada, OK; Christopher Padilla and wife, Dani, of The Colony, TX; Sarah Padilla Koziczkowski and husband, Brett, of Fort Worth, TX; David Roper and wife, Kellye, of Topeka, KS; Christian Roper and fiancée, Ashley Poff, of El Reno, OK; Taylor Roper of Denver, CO and Morgan Roper of Tulsa, OK. The legacy continues on with 15 great-grandchildren – Elliott Conley; George Chasen, Kingsley and Tinlee Roper; Chance Ridenbaugh; Rio and Baby Padilla; Sullivan Koziczkowski; Wyatt George, Weston and Waylynn Roper; Kirsten, Evangeline, Ayana and Marvin Roper. George has two brothers - Jerry Roper (wife Betty Kaye) of Townsend, TN and Stuart Roper (wife Meghan) of Cashion, OK; brother-in-law - Bill McDonough (wife Sue) of Newcastle, OK; sister-in-law - Linda Teagarden (husband David) of Bloomington, IL. George has numerous nieces and nephews who he loved dearly and helped whenever he could.

George is preceded in death by his lovely wife of 50 years, Sarah Jean McDonough Roper; parents Monroe Roper and Lissie Roper Allen; in-laws HB and Eva McDonough; daughter-in-law Pam Roper; brothers-in-law Bill McDonough and David Teagarden; sister-in-law Betty Kaye Roper.

A Wake service will be held on Friday, August 8th, at 6:00 pm at Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home at 2500 W. Modelle in Clinton, OK.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 9th, at 10:30 am at Saint Mary's Catholic Church at 1218 Knox Ave in Clinton, OK. Burial will follow in the Stafford Cemetery.