E. Ray Harper

Mr. E. Ray Harper, 82, of 820 Otterdale Mill Road, Taneytown, died Friday, May 19, at his home after a long illness.

He was the husband of Maybelle Iager Harper, his wife of 61 years.

Born July 22, 1917, in Silver Spring, he was a son of the late William Ernest and Carrie Wilson Harper.

Mr. Harper was a member of Mount Union Lutheran Church.

He was a lifelong farmer and a member of the Carroll County Farm Bureau.

Surviving in addition to his wife are two daughters, Lottie E. Bell and husband Wayne of near Taneytown, and Lois H. Dayett and husband Walt of Littlestown, Pa.; one son, Earle R. Harper and wife Linda of near Taneytown; one sister, Jennie Thompson of Highland; one brother, William L. Harper of Silver Spring; seven grandchildren, Laura Koontz, Brian Dayett, the Rev. Bradley Dayett, Robbie Harper, Christina Harper, Tristan Harper and David Bell; two stepgrandchildren, Lauren Visocky and Curtis Visocky; and five great-grandchildren.

Mr. Harper was preceded in death by one sister, Dorothy Gibson; and one brother, Lawrence Harper.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 22, at Hartzler Funeral Home, 310 Church St., New Windsor.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 23, at Mount Union Lutheran Church. Mr. Harper's pastor, the Rev. Richard L. Michael, and the Rev. Bradley Dayett, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Stoverstown, Pa., will officiate.

Interment will be in Mount Union Cemetery.

The family requests memorial contributions be made to Mount Union Lutheran Church, c/o Claude Bohn, 1250 Hapes Mill Road, Taneytown, Md. 21787, or to Carroll Hospice, 95 Carroll St., Westminster, Md. 21157.