Velora Lorene Loper, 72 years, passed away on Nov. 5, 2011 at her home in Ava, Mo.
Velora was born July 23, 1939 in Maries County, Mo., to Melvin Wayne and Ruby Geraldine (Barnett) Moreland.
On Aug. 28, 1955, Velora and Billy Gene Loper were united in marriage in St. Louis, Mo., and to this union eight children were born.
Velora was a resident of the Ava community since 1979 moving from Times Beach, Mo. She had worked as a nurses’ assistant in Ava. She was devoted to her family as a wife and homemaker. Velora enjoyed playing bingo, fishing, hunting, watching movies and wrestling on TV. She was a Christian of the Pentecostal faith.
Velora was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Billy Gene, in 2005; two children, Bennie and Kevin Loper.
Velora is survived by six children, Robert Jean Loper, Nixa, Mo., Brenda Metz, Rockaway Beach, Mo., Wayne B. Loper, Mansfield, Mo., Joanna Faye Hendrix, Rockaway Beach, Mo., Billy Gene Loper, Ava, Mo., and Janet Lorene Loper, Poplar Bluff, Mo.; five adopted children, Phillip L. Loper, Nebraska, Amanda R. Garcia, Nebraska, Donald E. Loper, Springfield, Mo., Christina M. Eaton, Springfield, Mo., and Angela S. Holman, Poplar Bluff, Mo.; 21 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; one sister, Faye Newhouse, Manchester, Mo.; many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Velora were Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 9 a.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with burial in the High Gate Baptist Cemetery, St. James, Mo., in Phelps County, at 2 p.m. Visitation was Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneral home.com.
