Category Archives: Obituaries

Thomas Copeland Obituary Request

Hello Cousins!

I just wanted to let you know that I recently contacted the State Historical Society of Missouri to request a copy of Thomas Copeland’s obituary. There were several papers published in Dunklin County at the time of his death, so I figured that his obituary would be in at least one of them. I was hoping that I might learn more about his parents and/or siblings. Unfortunately, it looks like there was no obituary published. Here is the response I received:

State Historical Society of Missouri Research Request
Leeman, Lauren Fri, Nov 15, 2013 at 4:31 PM
To: “kelcopeland@gmail.com”
Dear Ms. Wilson,

I am writing regarding your request for the obituary of Thomas Copeland. Unfortunately, the newspapers did not carry the news of his death. I checked the Malden Merit, Twice-a-Week Dunklin Democrat, and Farmington News.

I’m sorry we came up empty handed on your request. Let me know if you have any questions.

Lauren Leeman
Reference Specialist
The State Historical Society of Missouri
1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, MO 65201
Tel: 573.882.1187 | Main: 573.882.7083
leemanl@umsystem.edu | shs.umsystem.edu

You can view Tom Copeland’s death certificate HERE, which lists his parents as George Copeland and Mary Lawson. I am sure that George Copeland was his father, but I have doubts about Mary Lawson, considering that George’s wife on both the 1870 and 1880 Census was named “Sarah.” I believe there is a connection to the Lawson family but it would have been through George’s first wife, who was not the mother of Tom Copeland. My grandfather, Bill a.k.a. “Uncle Delvie”, told me that Tom’s mother was named Charlotte Eve Kingsley. I haven’t found anyone by that name living in Dunklin County around the time that George was there, but I’m not 100% sure that he married “Sarah” (the woman who must be Tom’s mother) in Dunklin County.

The hunt continues!

Your cousin,
Kelli Signature

Obituary | Ross (Copeland) Roe (1948-2005)

January 2005
North County Times (San Diego, CA)

ESCONDIDO – Ross Roe, 56, died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005,at his home.

He was born June 24, 1948, in Chelsea, Mass. He worked at Tri-City Fence in Escondido. At one time he was the owner of Ironrose Welding in Ramona.

Mr. Roe is preceded in death by his parents, William and Eileen Roe.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Roe of Escondido; sons Jason Roe of Leeds, Utah, and Jake Roe of Ramona; stepsons Quill Pena and Joe Prescott, both of Ramona, Ryan Hester of Riverside, and Michael Cole and Robert Rowe, both of Escondido; stepdaughter Amy Hester of Escondido; sisters Sharon Bryant and Jolien Lawerance, both of Huntsville, Alaska [should say Arkansas]; and five grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at Bonham Bros. & Stewart Mortuary in Ramona.

Bonham Bros. & Stewart Mortuary is handling arrangements.

[Note: son of William Delvie “Bill” and Eileen (Schena) Copeland, grandson of Tom and Myrtle (Crider) Copeland. He was adopted by his step-father, William Roe.]

Obituary | William Delvie Copeland (1923-2003)

March 25, 2003
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

WILLIAM COPELAND, 79, of Drummonds, owner of a television repair business, died Saturday at his home. Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Munford (Tenn.) Funeral Home with burial in Poplar Grove Cemetery in Drummonds. He was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Quito, Tenn., and was a World War II and Korean War Navy veteran. Mr. Copeland, the husband of Mabel Elizabeth Massey Copeland, also leaves three daughters, Mona Louise Laffoon of Lynnhaven, Fla., Marcia Lorraine Priess of Millington and Sheri Denise Holloway of Davison, Mich.; four sons, James Leroy Dishaw of Fort Worth, Texas, Dale Copeland of Norfolk, Va., Brian Copeland of Keene, N.H., and Darrell Copeland of Concord, Mass., 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

[Note: son of Tom and Myrtle (Crider) Copeland.]

Obituary | Dewey L. Weaver (1907-2000)

April 22, 2000
The Flint Journal

WEAVER, Dewey L. – Of Flint, age 93, died Thursday, April 20, 2000 at Briarwood Manor. Funeral services will be held 12 noon Monday, April 24, 2000 at the Brown Funeral Home, 1616 Davison Rd., Rev. David Miller officiating. Burial at Flint Memorial Park. Visitation 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Saturday, 6-9 p.m. Sunday. Mr. Weaver was born March 3, 1907 in Senath, Missouri. He married Dorothy Copeland on October 21, 1934 in Piggott, Arkansas. He was a farmer for over 20 years in Missouri, moving to Flint in 1954 where he was employed at Mead Container Company, retiring in 1972. Surviving are: daughter, Judy Steck and husband Walt of Swartz Creek; son, Jerry Weaver and wife Pat of Flint; 8 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Mr. Weaver was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy in 1996; his daughter, Bonnie Sue in 1939; and son, Thomas Weaver in 1967.

Obituary | Dorothy Beatrice (Copeland) Weaver (1912-1996)

December 24, 1996
The Flint Journal (MI)

WEAVER, Dorothy B. – Of Flint, age 84, died Sunday, December 22, 1996 at Briarwood Manor. Funeral services will be held 11AM Thursday, December 26, 1996 at the Brown Funeral Home, 1616 Davison Rd., Rev. Grant H. Wessel officiating. Burial at Flint Memorial Park. Mrs. Weaver will lie in state at the funeral home from 2-4 and 6-8pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mrs. Weaver was born April 8, 1912 in Arbyrd, MO. She married Dewey L. Weaver on October 21, 1934 in Piggott, AK. Mrs. Weaver was employed at the Robert Hall Clothing Store retiring in 1975 after 25 years of service. Surviving are: Husband Dewey L. Weaver of Flint; son, Jerry Weaver and wife Patricia of Flint; daughter, Judith Steck and husband Walter of Swartz Creek; 8 grandchildren, Jerry Weaver Jr., Teresa Kapture, Lisa Sams, David Lindensmith Jr., Karen White, Sherry Parsons, Tommy Weaver Jr. and Timmy Weaver; 16 great-grandchildren; sister, Donna Waltrip of Flint; brother, William D. Copeland and wife Mabel of Munford, TN; many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Weaver was preceded in death by her son, Tommy Weaver in 1967. Our sincere thanks to the caretakers of Briarwood Manor Nursing Home for the love and devotion shown to Dorothy.

[Note: Dorothy was the daughter of Tom and Myrtle (Crider) Copeland.]

Obituary | Donna Genevieve (Copeland) Waltrip (1927-2000)

July 15, 2000
The Flint Journal (MI)

WALTRIP, Donna Genevieve – Age 73, of Flint, died Thursday, July 13, 2000 at her home. A Funeral service will be held at 1PM Monday, July 17, 2000 at Brown Funeral Home, 1616 Davison Road with Rev. Leo Haring officiating. Burial will follow at Flint Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 7-9PM Saturday and 2-4 and 6-8PM Sunday. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association. Ms. Waltrip was born April 25, 1927 in Leachville, Arkansas, the daughter of Thomas and Myrtle (Crider) Copeland. She retired from A.C. Spark Plug in 1980 after 33 years of service. Ms. Waltrip was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Fraternal Order of the Police. Surviving are: daughter, Shelley Sue Gray and fiance Jeff Mabrey; granddaughter, Jeanette Menzer; great-grandchildren, Steven Menzer and Kelli Rene Menzer; brother, William D. Copeland and wife Mabel; nephew, Jerry Weaver and wife Patricia; nieces, Judy Steck and husband Walter, Sheri Holloway and husband Norman; special friends, Sonny and Bea, Sophie and Bev, James and Shirley.

Obituary | Marsha Diane (Copeland) Toler (1946-2012)

March 1, 2012
Daily Dunklin Democrat

Marsha Diane Toler, daughter of the late Dewey and Lockie Marshall Copeland, was born July 28, 1946, in Senath, Mo., and passed away Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark., at the age of 65.

She was a 1964 graduate of Senath High School.

Survivors include one daughter, Gina Butler, of Blytheville, Ark.; three sisters, Brenda Crawford, of Senath, Mo., Sandra Young and Marlene Moore, both of Memphis, Tenn.; one granddaughter, Brianna Diane Butler, and other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Gary Copeland.

Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. and will continue until service time at 2 p.m., Friday, March 2, at McDaniel Funeral Home in Senath.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, March 2, in the Senath Cemetery with Duane Cooper officiating.