Willis M. "Tony" Copeland

Willis M. “Tony” Copeland, age 80, of Grants Pass, died Friday, December 7, 2007 at his home.

A visitation will be from 9:30 am to 10:15 am, Friday, December 14, 2007 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Savage Street in the Relief Society Room.

A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 14, 2007 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Savage Street with Bishop Chris Sorensen officiating. Interment will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Eagle Point National Cemetery. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

He was born January 4, 1927 in St. Louis, Missouri to David and Dorothy (Mitchell) Copeland. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was five years old and a few years later settled in Riverside, California. During World War II he served in the United States Army as Military Police. On June 28, 1949 he married Marian (George) who survives. He was an Insurance Broker and had his own agency until his retirement. They raised their family in Riverside then in 1990 they moved to Bellevue, Washington. They relocated to Grants Pass in 1999 to enjoy retirement. He was a private pilot and loved to fly. He played the trombone and in earlier years played in and led his own “big band”.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Beacon Hill Ward. He enjoyed church service and with his wife served in the Medford Temple and served a Stake Mission and a Church Service Mission.

He especially enjoyed spending time with his friends and family.

In addition to his wife, survivors include four daughters, Carol (Bill) Brown of Issaquah, Washington, Jean (Dave) Patton of Santa Ana, California, Susan (Neal) Barrus of Smithfield, Utah, and Barbara (Brett) Sharp of Grants Pass, 11 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.