Shelly Copling (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Shelly Kay Copling, daughter of Werner and Joy Lee Haney Strick, was born December 4, 1959, in Kirksville, Missouri. She departed this life Monday, May 13, 2013, in her home, near Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of fifty-three years, five months, and nine days.
On August 16, 1980, she was united in marriage to Donald R. Copling, and to this union two sons were born.
Her father preceded her in death.
Shelly is survived by her husband of thirty-two years, Donald, of the home; two sons, Trent Copling, and his wife, Casey, and Kalem Copling, all of Lebanon, Missouri; a granddaughter, Jaley Copling; her mother, Joy Strick, of Lebanon, Missouri; a brother, Steve Strick, and his wife, Lori, of Berwick, Louisiana; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
She was raised in Wright City, Missouri, where she graduated from Wright City High School. At an early age she had a desire to be a school teacher and began her studies at Southwest Baptist University and College of the Ozarks. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Missouri State University. In 1981, she and Don made their home in Lebanon and Shelly was a devoted homemaker in addition to teaching. She started her career in education in a fifth grade classroom in Success, Missouri, and then taught in the Laclede Early Education Program in Lebanon for eight years. Next she was an elementary teacher in the Stoutland Schools for several years, before taking on a first grade classroom in the Laquey Schools.
Shelly had made her profession of faith in Christ and was an active member of Hillcrest Baptist Church. She was a talented pianist and enjoyed playing the piano for church services. She also liked accompanying the choir, small groups and soloists.
She loved being a mother and, even more so, a grandmother. She enjoyed attending her sons’ basketball games and liked watching all kinds of sports, basketball being her favorite. She enjoyed traveling and was particularly fond of the mountains in Tennessee and the beaches at Myrtle Beach. She had an infectious laugh and liked having fun. She loved music and greatly enjoyed listening to Trent sing and Kalem play the drums.
Shelly was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and aunt, and was a caring and concerned friend. She will be fondly remembered for not only the way she loved her family, but for being a creative and talented teacher and an inspiration to her students.
Memorial donations may be made to the Hillcrest Baptist Church Family Life Center.
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