James Allen "Al" Copeland

James Allen (Al) Copeland of Archie, MO departed this life on Monday November 12, 2018. Allen was born in his parent’s home on March 14, 1941 in Merwin, MO to Marion Lester and Nettie Mae (Dowdle) Copeland.

Allen graduated from Butler, Missouri High School in 1959. After graduation, he started working for Thomas Fumigation and married Gayle Gray on July 1, 1960. Together they had two children, Andy Copeland and Pam Shipley-Cox. He started his long-term career with Western Electric (now known as AT&T Technologies) in 1962 and later married his current wife, Georgia, on November 11, 1982. Allen and Georgia retired from AT&T Technologies together in 1991 where they then enjoyed their many hobbies together.

Allen and Georgia spent most of their adult life together in Archie, MO where they took joy in being parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Allen had many hobbies – he loved traveling, camping, fishing, wood working, and sports of all kinds. But most of all, Allen loved being with his family – of whom he was most proud of. Allen and Georgia were the first to arrive at every event to cheer on their grandchildren and their unwavering support was foundational to his family’s success.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by 2 infant children Timothy and Dana, and son Michael Hicks; brothers Lester Copeland and Donnie Copeland; sisters Mildred and Mabel Copeland, Ruby Bagby and Elsie Lacy.

Allen is survived by his wife Georgia Copeland of the home; 4 children, James Andrew Copeland and wife Cindy and Pamala Jeane Shipley-Cox and husband Douglas all of Archie, MO, Kevin Wayne Fox, Stockton, MO and Steven Dale Fox, Atlanta, GA; grandchildren Preston, Amber, Paige, Tiffany, Ashley, Travis, Megan, Ashley, Taylor, Abigail and Lesley; 14 great grandchildren with 2 on the way; a brother, Glenn Copeland, Rotan, TX; 3 sisters, Marie McDonnell, Drexel, MO, Nadine Semsch, Freeman, MO and Fern Coffel, Sedalia, MO; many nephews, nieces, cousins and family members.

Funeral services were held Friday, November 16, 2018 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri with burial in the Virginia Cemetery, Virginia Community, Missouri.

The family received friends Thursday, November 15, 2018 at the funeral home.