Goldman Raper, 73, of Murphy died Wednesday, June 27, 2012 in a Murphy medical center. He was a native and lifetime resident of Cherokee County. He retired after 30 years from Baker Furniture. Goldman enjoyed farming and gardening. He was a member and deacon of the River Valley Baptist Church for 45 years. He was on the roll of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

He was the son of the late James and Lourina Mashburn Raper. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Lillian Allen and Dorothy Kaylor; five brothers, Marcus, Tom, Horace “Bud”, Wendell “Bill”, and Pearley Raper; and one grandson, Dylan Brown.

Surviving are his wife of 47 years, Doris Ledford Raper; three daughters, Glenda Ware and husband, Scott of Blue Ridge, GA, Joann Moore and husband, Max of Murphy, and Debbie Brown and husband, Jimmy of Hiwassee Dam; seven sisters, Gertrude Kilpatrick, Maggie Stiles, Louise Davenport, Irene Mathis, Reba Davis, Mary Long, and Marie Nations all of Murphy; five brothers, Hoyt Raper of Ohio, and Guy Raper, Truman Raper, Charles Raper, and Henry Raper all of Murphy; and four grandchildren, Leslie and Scotty Ware of Blue Ridge, Kayla Cox of Murphy, and Glorious Brown of Hiwassee Dam.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 PM Saturday, June 30 in the River Valley Baptist Church with the Revs. Emory Samples and Scott Ware officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Matthew, Jeff, and Adam Raper, Joe and Gary Long, and Eric Nations. Honorary pallbearers were Scotty Ware, Tim Davis, Michael Davis, David Byers, Robert Flowers, Doc Ware, Billy Anderson, Keith Oler, Jerry Raper, Mark Raper, David Davenport, Rex Kilpatrick, Clinton Raper, Jason Raper, James Raper, Donald Stiles, Luke Raper, Paul Webster, Ronald Webster, Lawrence Webster, Tony Hamby, and Wylie Hamby.

The family received friends from 5-8 Friday evening at the River Valley Baptist Church.

The family requests memorials be made in memory of Goldman Raper to the River Valley Baptist Church, 211 Raper Road, Murphy, NC 28906.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.