Obituary for Alean Roper

Alean “Neanie” Roper, age 83, of Nantahala NC went home to be with her Lord unexpectedly early in the morning on Thursday, February 29, 2024. She was a devoted wife, mother and Neanie to her family. Born on June 7, 1940, to Edgar and Dorothy Shelton in Suches, Georgia. Alean was raised in Skeenah Gap in Fannin County; soon after graduation she moved to Atlanta to work as an operator for the telephone company. She was introduced to the love of her life by mutual friends on an early June day and married him only 4 months later. Alean and Mickey were married 54 years before his passing in 2015. Together, they built a home and created a family on a strong foundation of love and faith. At the age of 21, Alean joined her husband in Massachusetts, then onto Fort Huachuca, Arizona. While in Arizona, Alean and Mickey welcomed their first two children Chuck and Terry. After being discharged from the service, Alean and Mickey moved back to Madison, GA where they purchased a large farm and extended their family with two beautiful baby girls, Cindy and Libby. In 1973, Alean and Mickey were led by the Lord to return to the mountains of WNC to raise their family in Nantahala. In 1976, Alean and Mickey welcomed the final addition to their family, a baby boy named Mike. Now five children strong, Alean and Mickey enjoyed the valleys and peaks of raising their children and providing a legacy of faith and love.

After moving to Nantahala in June of 1973, Alean was a stay at home mom until her last child, Mike was in school; she took a job as a part time custodian at Nantahala School. After several years, Alean took a job as the Deli manager at Ingles in Andrews where she worked until she retired in 2009. Retirement was special days she got to spend with her husband sharing time in the garden, planting flowers, and caring for their animals.

September 1997 Alean and Mickey began a new chapter in their lives as they became grandparents of a precious baby girl named Jacklyn. The idea and joy of being a Neanie was first shared with Jacklyn, then later with Devin, Brandon, Jacob, Andrew, Michaela and finally with little Chuck. Alean experienced an emptiness when God called her Mickey home to Heaven in June of 2015; but with the birth of her youngest grandchild whom she took care of gave her a new lease on life; they were attached at the hip from day one!

Alean was a member at Bethel Hill Baptist Church where she enjoyed worshiping when she was able to attend. She loved spending time with her family but especially her grandchildren. She lived by the philosophy, “if a job isn’t worth doing right, then don’t start it!” and “if you don’t use it, you are going to lose it!” She taught her family how to garden, care for her flowers by knowing how to de-bud her roses, plant lilies, and many of life’s lessons they will encounter later in life. Alean loved supervising/managing her chicken farm; along with being a Nantahala historian.

Along with her parents, Alean is preceded in death by her husband Mickey, her Father and Mother-in-law Frank and Mae Roper of Nantahala, NC; one son, Charles “Chuck” Mickey Roper; one daughter, Cynthia “Cindy” Dorothy Rhodes; one son-in-law Harold Rhodes; two sisters, Sharlene Cox, Jura Burt; a sister-in-law Violet DeVore; three brother-in-laws James Meers; John Burt; Ben Cox; Dover Roper; and Dale Roper; along with several other friends and family members.

Surviving are one sister, Shirley Meers of Suches, GA; her children, Terry Clark (John) of Franklin, NC; Libby Gibson (Stanley) of Nantahala, NC; Michael Roper (Catherine) of Murphy, NC. Seven grandchildren, Jacklyn Schnuphase, Devin Schnuphase (Chloe), Brandon Rhodes, Jacob Clark, Andrew Clark, Michaela Roper and Chuck Gibson, along with several nieces and nephews.

Family will receive family and friends on Saturday, March 2, 2024 from 7 to 9PM, at Townson Rose Funeral Home in Andrews, NC.

Funeral Services will be at Bethel Hill Baptist Church on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 3:00PM with Rev. Darrel Dockery and Chris Rumfelt officiating. Burial will follow directly after the service in the Bethel Hill Cemetery in Nantahala, NC. Pallbearers will be Devin Schnuphase, Brandon Rhodes, Mike Wishon, Eli Young, Johnny Hamby, Adam Wishon, David McMahan, and Dennis Cochran.


You may send tributes to the family at www.townson-rose.com