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Gladys Geraldine "Geri"
(Baker) Copeland
Sep 8, 1932 - Nov 4, 2017
Posted by: Ann Weber
STUMPFF FUNERAL HOME
BARTLESVILLE, WASHINGTON CO, OK
(permission granted)
Gladys Geraldine (Baker) Copeland, 85, passed peacefully from this world
to be with her Lord on Saturday, November 4, 2017, just a month after
losing her beloved husband. With their meeting at age 14 and being
together 71 years (married for 67), God was so gracious to keep them
apart only 32 days.
Gladys G. Baker was born at home in a farmhouse near Beggs, OK, on
September 8, 1932 (though records also show her birthdate as 9/2). She
was the twelfth of thirteen children born to Thomas Ross Baker and Laura
Ellen (Stephens) Baker, who truly had a baker’s dozen of offspring. Like
many families of the day, they moved multiple times over the years,
living in various communities around northeast Oklahoma. Geri attended
schools in Pleasant Valley, Tulsa, Mounds, and Owasso, before entering
junior high in Beggs.
In 8th grade she met a boy named Bill and writes about the following
(freshman) year, “That year I again found a new steady, which I had a
little difficulty holding on to since he had gotten to that age where
‘the more girlfriends the better’ and there were plenty girls
interested.” That new steady was Billy Dewayne Copeland, whom she
married a few years later when they were 17 and 18, respectively
(crossing the state line to wed early).
They married in Harrison, Arkansas, in June 1950, shortly before Bill
reported for active duty in the US Army, and she doted on him ever
since. Following his discharge, they lived in Tulsa and Pasadena, TX,
while starting their family, coming to Bartlesville in 1963 where they
raised their three sons and remained until her death.
Coming from a very large family of brothers and sisters, with nieces and
nephews aplenty, Geri loved spending time with her extended family.
Annual family reunions were always large, joyful affairs, and her kids
treasure countless memories of weekends spent with their cousins.
Geri was an accomplished seamstress and cook and devoted herself to her
family and church. She was a Cub Scout den mother, avid reader and Bible
student, and taught in countless Bible Schools, Sunday Schools, and
Ladies Bible Studies over the years. She was the storekeeper in the
early days at Copeland Appliance, which she and Bill founded in 1970 in
Dewey, OK. Over the years, as her sons married and started families, she
was a loving grandma to her six grandchildren. In the 1980s she and Bill
embarked on another adventure, buying and remodeling numerous rental
properties in Bartlesville and Okmulgee. Some of the renovations were
very extensive and she was immersed in every aspect, including the
planning, design, and construction. She was truly a helpmate in every
respect.
Upon retirement they realized yet another dream: traveling in their RV,
often caravanning with several of Geri’s siblings and their spouses,
exploring small towns and collecting treasures along the way.
Above all, her commitment to her Lord and Savior was first and foremost.
She was an active member of Trinity Baptist Church in Bartlesville for
the last two decades. In addition to teaching, she and Bill used their
remodeling skills to impact almost every part of the church building.
Her faith involved every aspect of life and is reflected in those she
leaves behind. Such a legacy will not be soon forgotten.
Geri was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings Hallie, Ina,
Veachel, George, Velma, Elsie, Mildred, Wilma Jean, and Imogene; and her
dear husband, Billy D. Copeland.
She is survived by her sons: Dale W.
(Donna) Copeland, Michael L. (Lynn) Copeland, and Kenneth G. (Janice)
Copeland, all of Bartlesville; eight grandchildren: Jon, Nathan, Kris,
Megan, Justin, Shane, Mickey, and Matt; eleven great-grandchildren;
sisters Lucy Piazza and Della Davidson and brother Bob Baker; plus a
great cloud of friends and church family.
Funeral Service
Stumpff Funeral Home Chapel
1600 SE Washington Blvd
Bartlesville, OK, US, 74006
Cemetery Details
Memorial Park Cemetery
4200 Nowata Rd
Bartlesville, OK, 74006
|Memorial Park Cemetery | |Washington County Cemeteries| |Home|
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