MARY BEATRICE RAPER

June 27, 2022

LAMAR- Private family services will be held at a later date for Mary Beatrice Raper, 71, Lamar, who died Thursday, June 23, 2022, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin.

Arrangements are under the direction of Daniel Funeral Home.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to The Way Church, in care of the funeral home. Mrs. Raper’s nephew, Evan Harrison, started this church and she was so proud of him.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include one daughter, Kristy Kinney and husband Terry, Lamar; four grandchildren, Brian Raper and wife Kimberly, Coffeyville, Kan., Kelly Coy, Lamar, David Murphy and wife Angel, Springfield and Jazmin Murphy, Lamar; bonus grand-blessings, Frankie Murphy and husband Brandon, Lamar, Alishia Chapman, Maryland and Tearria Kinney, New York; four great-grandchildren, Andrew, Shawn, Willa and Jaelyn; one brother, Benny Ratterree and wife Tammy, Cassville; two sisters, Marie Ault and husband Elmer, Millbrook, Ala. and Diana Harrison and husband Gary, Mountain Grove, along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; one son, William Jack “B.J.” Raper and two brothers, Jimmy Ratterree and Kenny Ratterree.

Mrs. Raper was born Oct. 4, 1950, in Graff, to David Benjamin and Mable Marie (Hutsell) Ratterree. She was a 1968 graduate of Mountain Grove High School. She married Anthony “Jim” Raper on July 20, 1968, at Hopewell Baptist Church in Bendavis.

She was a devout believer and found comfort in her Christian faith. She loved spending time with family as a dedicated wife, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. In her retirement years her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her great joy. She especially looked forward to yearly family reunions in Mountain Grove, where she would spend time catching up with her beloved family. Between family visits she enjoyed the company of her dogs, Rocky and Max. And she never passed up the opportunity to visit flea markets, shopping with her daughter Kristy.

Mrs. Raper especially enjoyed being outside around water. There were canoeing adventures with her son BJ and husband Jim. And, at one time she even had a pool built in her backyard, not for her to swim, but to enjoy basking in the sun. Friends and family were warned, don't dare splash her with water.

She worked for many years at O'Sullivan Industries in Lamar until her retirement. She worked in the packing department. Both Mrs. Raper and her late husband Jim enjoyed the car scene and they founded and ran the MO West Street Machine Car Show, which ultimately was the beginning of the hot rod shows that are now part of the Lamar Fair.