Arthur W. Harper

Arthur W. Harper went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, June 23, 2001. He was born on November 3, 1934, in Neosho, Missouri to John Monroe Harper and Mabel Rebecca (nee Cox) Harper. He spent approximately 10 years of his life in Missouri before moving to Pueblo. He is survived by his wife and friend of 41 years, Regina L. (nee Byrd) Harper of the family home; sons, Sid Harper of Tempe, Arizona and Gregory W. Harper of Joplin, Missouri; daughter, Dianne (nee Harper) Petkoff of Pueblo; grandchildren, Angela Dawn Harper Frazier, Kiel Robert Petkoff, Kari Ryan Petkoff, Patty Jo Stone, all of Pueblo, Garrett Wayne Harper of Joplin, Missouri; his 'adopted by love' grandchildren, Steven Wayne Stone, Alasha Mae Stone, Desiree and Taylor Frazier, all of Pueblo and Brittney Eden of Joplin, Missouri; and his beloved daughters-in-law, Tammy Stone and Lisa (Brent) Frazier, both of Pueblo and Shannon Harper of Joplin, Missouri. Mr. Harper is also survived by close friends, Bill Thornton, Mike Aguero, Bud Colletti and Phyllis Perry (Secretary), all of Pueblo; sisters and their families, Bobbie(Larry) Troope and Shirley Jean (Ronnie) Stergeons of Carthage, Missouri; brother, John (Patricia) Taylor of Carl Junction, Missouri; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Mr. Harper served in the 11th Army Airborne Division as a paratrooper from 1954 to 1958. He returned to work at American Packing until 1961. He went to long haul trucking. Mr. Harper's heart was in truck driving, he loved to travel over the road. He drove for H.J. Jeffries until 1970 then he went to work for Alan Metchek Trucking out of Sterling, Colorado then in 1973, he and his wife took Mrs. Harper's parents family business over and have operated Harper's Septic Tank and Sewer Service to the present. In 1981, Mr. Harper also started 'AAA Portable Jons' which was sold to 'Pueblo Disposal' in 1999. Mr. Harper is preceded in death by his mother and father; sisters, Betty Ann (Dale) Howell of Carthage, Missouri and Mary Ellen (Art) Hathaway of Neosho, Missouri; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Vaughn R. Byrd and Ada L. Byrd of Pueblo. Mr. Harper will lie in state today at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, June 28, 2001, at Pueblo Christian Center, 1605 S. Pueblo Blvd., with Pastors Gregg Slaughter and Richard Emerson officiating. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Gideon's through the funeral home.