Shizuko "Susie" Inaba Roper

Shizuko Inaba Roper (Susie), age 93, of Franklin, NC, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family, on July 15, 2026.

Susie was born on March 16, 1933, in Ito, Japan and grew up with twelve brothers and sisters. During the Korean War, she was working on a military base in Japan and it was there where she met her loving husband, Charlie W. Roper.

Susie and Charlie married in 1953, and their first son, Larry, was born in 1955 in Sendai, Japan. In July of 1956, Susie and Larry immigrated to the US with Charlie and resided in the Rose Creek Community of Macon County before calling many other states their home through Charlie’s service with the United States Army. In Fort Riley, Kansas, a daughter, Linda Douglass was welcomed; while serving at Fort Jackson, SC, their son, Roy Roperwas born; and after returning home to live in Franklin, NC, Susie and Charlie welcomed their son, Charles Roper (Chris). Susie and Charlie settled in the Rose Creek community after Charlie retired from the United States Army in order to provide ongoing care for her father-in-law.

While Susie and Charlie’s oldest son, Larry, was in college, he met Leo Matanguihan, and they became instant friends. Their friendship led Susie to invite Leo to spend Thanksgiving in their home. From that first Thanksgiving, Leo became Susie’s and Charlie’s fifth child.

Embracing Leo in as her own was one of the many pillar gestures she made during her lifetime. She deeply cared for her family, friends, neighbors, church family, and her community. She was devoted to Snow Hill Methodist Church in the Cowee Community of Macon County, and her hard work helped raise funds to build a fellowship hall and other projects. Susie had an eye for beauty as her floral arrangements adorned the sanctuary at Snow Hill Methodist Church many Sundays.

In the midst of raising her children, Susie worked on the family farm, at the Macon County Tomato Coop, Belden Industries, Blue Bell Inc., and J.C. Whitney. Through her work and extensive involvement with her church and the Cooperative Extension's Home Economics (now Family and Consumer Sciences) programs, Susie learned to speak, read, and write English.

Skilled in many hobbies, Susie took pride in sharing them with her family and friends. From sewing, gardening, arranging flowers, baking, and decorating cakes, Susie could do it all. Her green thumb allowed her to produce an abundant garden from which she canned, froze, dried, and made jams and jellies. Among her many hobbies, Susie made her biggest mark with her incredible skills and love for cooking. She could cook a wonderful meal for an army of people and made sure everyone ate. Everyone who graced her table including family, friends, neighbors; whomever graced her table never walked away hungry. Her meals encompassed everything from American comfort foods to traditional Japanese dishes. The Roper home was always filled with amazing foods served with deep and abiding love.

Susie’s family will miss the quality time she spent with each of them. Her home brought together them all to enjoy a pot of simmering curry or a skillet of sukiyaki. Susie (Nana) sometimes had both prepared for everyone to enjoy. A favorite among the grandchildren was Nana’s Inarizushi (brown bags), homemade kimchi, miso soup and her delicious apple cakes. Nana loved food, and she loved seeing her family enjoy Japanese dishes with her.

Susie is survived by her children Larry Roper and wife Robin of Wake Forest, NC; Leo Matanguihan of Baltimore, MD; Linda Douglass and husband Greg of Franklin, NC;Roy Roper and wife Susan of Raleigh, NC; Chris Roper and wife Shenan of Wendell, NC; grandchildren Kelsie Miller and husband Taylor of Zebulon, NC; Powell Inaba Roper and wife Amanda of Youngsville, NC; Branden Roper of Angier, NC; Leanne Raasch and husband Michael of Wendell, NC; Miles Matanguihan of Baltimore, MD; Grace Roper of Wendell, NC; Lucas Matanguihan of Baltimore, MD; Charlie Roper of Wendell, NC; and her two great grandchildren, Tyde and Kalley Miller of Zebulon, NC; and one sister in Japan.

Susie is preceded in death by her devoted husband, Charlie W. Roper; her parents; eleven of her brothers and sisters; many cousins; and her great-granddaughter, Kadyn Miller.

The family would like to thank Four Seasons Hospice for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made out to Four Seasons of Western North Carolina.

Online condolences can be left at www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Roper family.