Woodward, Okla. —
Peggy Lynne Roper was born September 3, 1951 to Elwood and Wanda Inman Riley. On the day she was born, her daddy was coaching a baseball game in Altus, OK. When her daddy learned that she was about to be born, he sent word back to “hold the baby off until I finish this game”--this did not surprise Peg when she found this out many years later.
Peggy attended school in Shattuck and later attended Oklahoma State University. In 1970, she married Larry Girton and made their home in Gage, OK. To this union, Shauna Deon, Dustin Sean and Robyn Renee were born. Her children were her pride and joy and kept her going. She spent countless hours at baseball, basketball, and football games, and many, many baton twirling and dance lessons. Peggy taught the “Flying Robyn’s”, a baton twirling performing troupe, for seventeen (17) years, and they performed at football and basketball games every year in Northwest Oklahoma.
Peggy worked as a U.S. Postal Service rural mail carrier for thirty-two (32) years at the Fargo and Shattuck post offices. She was the proud recipient of the Million Mile award with no accidents. Her interest in mail delivery began when she was eight (8) years old and went with her Grandma Inman on the mail route. They not only delivered the mail, but bread, fresh milk, eggs and picked up cookies, and fresh bread. It was much fun for Peggy! She was very proud of her Grandma Inman, who was the first woman rural mail carrier in Oklahoma and the second woman rural mail carrier in the United States. Grandma Inman began delivering mail in 1918 in a horse and buggy, crossing the South Canadian River twice a day. Peggy used to tell her Grandma Inman, “you were one of the first women libbers”, and when Peggy had a bad day on the route,“I would think of her, and I got over it pretty quick.”
In 2000, Peggy met the love and soul mate of her life, Dix Roper. They were married on his mother’s birthday, July 4, 2002. It was such a blessing for Peggy to have Dix brought into her life. She welcomed his children, Tom, Dana, and Mark into her life and his six grandchildren. Peggy felt her life had been so very blessed by God placing her in the Roper family. Peggy really enjoyed her relationship with Dana, and daughter-in-law, Tami Girton—both were so loving and helpful.
Peggy lost her battle with cancer on September 12, 2012 peacefully in her home. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elwood and Wanda Riley, and her brother, Gary Riley.
She is survived by her loving husband, Dix Alden Roper, her daughter and family of Phoenix, AZ, Shauna and Joe O’Connor, Alec and Shelby; her son and family of Gage, OK, Dusty and Tami Girton, McKayla, Riley, and Brendan; her daughter and family of Woodward, OK, Robyn and Ryan Price, Caroline and Connor; Tom and Teri Roper, Tyler and Tori; Steve and Dana McDonald, Megan and Ryan; Mark and Jennifer Roper, Kyle and Kaleb; sister-in-law Pat Riley, sister-in-law Linda and Gary Slaiger of Liberal, KS; and sister-in-law Jan Malone of Yukon, OK. Peggy is also survived by a very special father-in-law, Virgil Roper, whom she adored dearly, and many other family and friends.
Services were held at the First Baptist Church in Arnett, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, with burial following at DeBolt Cemetery.
Shaw Funeral Home of Arnett is in charge of arrangements.
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