Extracted from The Morning Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)
Thursday, Febuary 18, 1971

Cropper Rites Set for Today At Opelousas

OPELOUSAS -- Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday for Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cropper who were burned to death when fire destroyed their home early Wednesday morning. He was 62 and his wife was 60.

Services will be held at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will be in Belleview [sic Bellevue] Memorial Park under direction of Lafond and Son Funeral Home.

The Croppers lived about 10 miles south of Opelousas in a 115-year-old house which they rented four-months ago from Evon Comeaux, Church Point. Cropper was a retired oil field worker.

The fire was detected at 7 a.m. by Jesse Venable, who lives about a half-mile from the Cropper home. He said he saw smoke rising from the roof and put in an alarm.

Origin of the fire is undetermined

Deputy Sheriff Frank Guidroz reported the couples' charred bodies were found lying on the floor next to a bed in the combination kitchen-dining room in the rear of the house.

Dr. A. E. Williams, St. Landry Parish coroner, reported Mr. and Mrs. Cropper were charred to death.

The couple is survived by three sons, a daughter and 10 grandchildren. Cropper is also survived by a brother and five sisters and Mrs. Cropper by a brother and a sister.