Carolyn R. Roper

Carolyn Roberts Roper, 79 (19 in leap years), of Jacksonville, FL entered Heaven’s gate on March 25,2019 at the Community Hospice Anne and Donald McGraw Center for Caring. She was born 29 February 1940 in Chuckey, Tennessee, the youngest child of James and Esther King Roberts.

She thoroughly enjoyed fishing at the Mayport Jetties and Anastasia State Park for many years with her husband and family members. Although she clearly enjoyed reeling in “the keepers”, it can be said no one could throw a cast nest as well as she could. Carolyn had a great love for animals and also enjoyed gardening and decorating; albeit decorative skills unmatched and often concepts that were ahead of their time. Those innovative decorative engineering feats, and the associated stories that made us laugh, will surely be missed and passed down for generations to come.

Her exceptional attention-to-detail and a strong work ethic was well-known and emulated by all during her working years as the Sea Turtle Inn Hostess located at Atlantic Beach, FL, as the Head Waitress at the Jacksonville Beach Holiday Inn, as the Chief Petty Officer’s Club Hostess Aboard Naval Station Mayport, FL, and Co-Owner of a Dairy Queen.

In addition to responsibilities outside the home, during the late 1950’s ‘60’s and early ‘70’s, Carolyn raised four children as a Navy Wife tending the home fires during her husband’s extended deployments around the world.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents and grandparents. She is survived by her loving husband, Frank Roper of nearly 40 years; sisters Colena Squibb, her husband Bill of Robstown, TX, and Patsy Ripley, of Marietta, GA; daughters Elizabeth Hawkins, her husband Mark of West End, NC, Brenda Porter of Jacksonville, FL, Diana Porter of Brunswick, GA; son CAPT Clyde Porter, USN (Ret), and his wife Robin of Blowing Rock, NC; along with seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to one of the following organizations:

(1) Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905. Note: Kindly state that gifts are to be donated to the Florida Campus.

(2) Community Hospice & Palliative Care, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257 or give online at support.communityhospice.com

(3) Jacksonville Humane Society @ www.jaxhumane.org

A private graveside service for immediate family members will be conducted at a future date at the Union Chapel Cemetery, Horse Creek, TN. To leave an online condolence to the family, please visit our website at www.hardage-giddensbeacheschapel.com