E. J. Roper, Jr., 74, of Minnich Avenue, died at 10:11 a.m., Friday at Lourdes Hospital.  Mr. Roper, a native of Clarksville, Tenn., was a retired building contractor and a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church.  He was a 40 year member of Carpenters’ Local Union No. 357 and was a Navy veteran of World War II.  Surviving are his wife, Dorothy Obermark Roper; two sons, Michael Edwin Roper and David Raymond Roper, both of Paducah; one daughter, Nancy Roper Smith of Paducah; two sisters, Lucille Roper Quarles and Dorothy Roper King, both of Paducah; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  His parents were E. J. Roper, Sr., and Effie Virginia Stamper Roper.  Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Mount Carmel Cemetery.  The Rev. Jerry Riney will officiate.  Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Roth Funeral Chapel, where prayers will be said at 7 p.m. today.

(Note:  E. J. Roper, Jr.’s grandparents, Elizabeth Melissa Atkins and Marcus Lindsey Roper were first cousins, so he was a great great grandson of Rev. War soldier Lewis Atkins through Lewis’ daughter Rachel Atkins who married Charles Roper and George B. Atkins who married Sarah Matheny.)