James Stewart Roope
ROOPE, James Stewart, Castle Hill, 2016. Funeral services were held at noon August 9, 2016, at West Chapman Advent Christian Church. Arrangements are under the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home.
CASTLE HILL – James Stewart Roope was born in West Chapman on May 18, 1924. He was the son of Boyd James and “Harriet” Mabel (Eaton) Roope. His father was from Nova Scotia, Canada.
“Jimmy” was predeceased by his mother when he was 5 1/2 years old, then later in life, in 1964, by his father, Boyd, and on March 18, 2008, he lost his brother, Kenneth Boyd, and recently, Kenneth’s wife (Arlene McPherson). His children were his treasures. He lost a tiny grandson, Sabin John A. C. Roope, (Alan and Kathy’s.) He lost his oldest son, Boyd Edwin who died unexpectedly at 47 years old in 2000. He lost a grandson, Marine CPL Dustin James Libby at 22 yrs. old who was killed in Iraq on Dec. 6, 2006. He lost his youngest son, David Mark, from cancer at 53 years in 2012.
Jimmy was a hard worker and never stayed home a day from work unless he was ill and those were very few. Between jobs, he would ask his wife to “put up his lunch” in his dinner pail and he’d start for town early in the morning and when he came home at suppertime, he would have worked all day on a new job. At 17, he started work for farmers and sometimes “lived in with them” while there. Two of the families were the Linwood Curriers and Alvin Winslows. He was used very well and felt a part of their families and always kept in touch with them. For many years, he worked for Alden Bull and Bull Brother’s and had a chance to learn to operate heavy equipment in their gravel pit. This was a great help to him in acquiring other work after. He also got his tractor trailer license while working there. He worked for the town of Mapleton maintaining roads and snow plowed roads in the winter and did other road work and ran heavy equipment. Eventually, looking for higher wages, he went to Tatermeal in Presque Isle, where he could work a lot of overtime. He drove truck, ran heavy equipment and eventually drove tractor trailers hauling their cow feed and also hauled ‘Bunker C’ Oil with tankers. He had accomplished his dream of driving 18 wheelers. He loved every minute of it and in the 20 plus years he worked there, he only had a couple of misshaps with the trucks and though there was some damage, no one was hurt. After retirement, he enjoyed helping his Roope cousins on their farm for several seasons, planting potatoes in the spring and also in the fall harvest. For several winters, he helped snow plow the runways at the PI Airport and loved to do that job and enjoyed working with Russell Clark and Bob Johnson very much. He enjoyed working with his brother, Kenneth, there for a time.
He is survived by his wife, Annis (Howes); and daughter, Geni Libby and her husband, Gerald Montpetit, Geni’s son, Chris and his wife, Heather (Ayott) and her son, Colby Wollard. He is also survived by a son, Alan Stewart and Kathy (Clair) and their children, Seth Alan and his wife, Shelly (Simpson), and great-grandson, Kaeden; Alan’s daughter, Janelle Marie and husband, Chris Scott. He leaves a much loved daughter-in-law, Annette (Turner) Roope and her daughters, Jessica, and Melissa and her husband, Nathan Maurais and great-grandchildren, Edwin Albert and Adeline Julianne Maurais. Also he leaves another much loved daughter-in-law, Laura (Searles-Rockwell) Roope and Laura’s and David’s children, Phillip James Roope, Dannah Jean (Roope) and husband, Kevin Johnson and their son, Benjamin David, Andrew Jared Roope and Vicki; Lisa Rockwell and Jordan Carmichael and twins, Lainee and Jensen Carmichael. Also Lindsey Rockwell. “Grampa” surely loved his grandchildren and had nicknames for most of them and they loved him right back. He leaves Kenneth and Arlene’s children, Ronald and his wife, Julie and their children, Ron Jr., Jonathan, Agela and Reno Boucher and Sheridan and Drake; Kristy Roope Kenney and her son, Matthew; Rebecca (Roope) Dean and (Teresa and family) and Lynn and the late Dan Maillett. Also Annis’ siblings, Stanferd Howes, of New Hampshire, Dana Howes of Ashland, and Enid White, of Guilford, ME and their respected spouses and their children. He loved most people and those he worked with, he had nicknames for and he kept in touch with them after retirement. Close relatives received special names, like, Schmoe, Lynnie Schickelgroover, or Josephus Orange Blossom Queen, Bunky, Binzo, Sweetie, and many other odd names. Special mention, Richard Eaton (a cousin) and wife, Arlita. They have two sons, Tyler and Alex.
Friends called 11 a.m., August 9, 2016, at West Chapman Advent Christian Church where funeral services were held at noon with Pastor Nathan Gardiner, officiating. Interment followed the service at Southside Cemetery, Mapleton. Online condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com.
