Services celebrating the life of June Cope, 91, of Ada, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Criswell Funeral Home in Ada, her nephew, Rev. Mike Taylor will officiate, assisted by Dr. Ron Ramming, Interim President of Connors State College. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery in Ada. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday at Criswell Funeral Home.
June Cope passed away Monday, January 23, 2017 in Muskogee. She was born in Stonewall, OK on October 3, 1925 to Richard F. (Papa) and Dicey Adeline Ray Maxberry. She attended school in Byng where she learned her love of basketball and played under Coach Bertha Frank Teague. She married Harrison Cope on December 24, 1942. She received her B. A. degree in education from East Central University and a M. A. degree in both Psychology and Nursing from the University of Oklahoma.
June held various jobs before beginning her teaching degree including building airplanes during WWII and nursing. She started teaching at Dickson, OK, then moved to Okemah where her energy was tested by serving as English II teacher, counselor and 4-H sponsor. On top of these duties, she reinstated the high school girls’ basketball program by coaching both the High School and Jr. High Girls’ basketball teams. She left Okemah to work at Eastern Oklahoma State College as Dean of Students.
June’s love of nursing led her to complete her Master’s degree in nursing and take a position teaching nursing at East Central University, but in 1985 she was recruited by Connors State College where she established the nursing degree program and served as the Director of Nursing. She was instrumental in getting the program accredited in 1988. While she was the director of the program, June held a 100 % graduation rate and 100% of her students passed the Nursing Boards. Even after her retirement in 1994, the Connors program still maintains a graduation and boards rate in the high 90’s, is considered one of the best programs in the state, and is now one of the most significant degree programs at CSC. This program was her pride and joy.
June was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi, belonged to the National League of Nursing, the Retired Oklahoma Educator’s Association and the First Baptist Church in Ada.
June is survived by her three children, Reba Flanders and husband Dan of Okemah, Dr. Joe D. Cope and wife Cathy of Bixby, and Connie Muse and husband Bill of Muskogee; six grandchildren; seven and ½ great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; sister, Lavona Wood-Farr of Sarasota, FL; numerous nieces, nephews; and other extended family and lifetime friends.
June was preceded in death by her husband, Harrison; her parents; and all but one of her 11 siblings.
Bearers will be Daryl Flanders, Harrison Cope, Devin Flanders, Dalton Flanders, Chase Moritz and Jake Moritz. Honorary bearers will be Donald Price, Charles Price, Wid Cope, Dr. Carl O. Westbrook, A. D. Stone and Dr. Gary Updike.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association, Memorial and Tribute Processing Center, P. O. Box 1653, Topeka, KS 66601-1653; or any other charity of your choice.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
