Brenda Kay Coplin, 59, of Paris, passed from this life and won her battle on Sunday July 21, 2013 at Medical City Hospital of Dallas. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Thursday July 25, 2013 in the chapel of Starrett Funeral Home with Rev. Jack Graham officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Brenda was born October 20, 1953 in Paris, a daughter of Johnny W. and Sarah Emma Bowers Wilson. She was a graduate of Paris High School and worked for over thirty years for Dr. Larry Walker, later Paris Family Physicians. Brenda loved life, and whether preparing delicious meals, dancing to her favorite Country & Western music, or out shopping, she gave it the very best that she could. Her love was deep for the things she enjoyed, especially family campouts at Pat Mayse Lake, but that love paled when compared to that special love she had for her family. Brenda recognized the important responsibility of raising her three daughters, but later learned that a grandmother’s obligation to spoil her ten grandchildren was equally as rewarding. In 1983 Brenda married the love of her life, Rick Coplin. Together they built a family, lasting friendships, and taught lessons that will last a lifetime.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Brenda is survived by her husband and soulmate Rick; three daughters, Johnetta Miranda and husband Egbert, of Corpus Christi, Camey Boyer and husband Mickey, of Paris, and Kristi Martin and husband Ricky, of Rockwall; ten grandchildren, Jacob, Avery, Maddy Cunningham & Paul Miranda; Kiefer & Carson Boyer, Alexander & Erica Salas, and Kamiren & Bayleigh Martin; her mother, Sarah Emma Wilson; a sister, Patricia Berry and husband Larry, of Paris; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, James L. and Helen Ann Coplin, of Paris; and three sisters-in-law, Lisa Mayes and husband Randy, of Paris, Deborah Melvin and husband Darell, of Paris, and Cathy Skidmore and husband Brian, of Paris; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends too numerous to mention.
Named to serve as pallbearers are Nick Blount, Chris Fox, Dr. Richard Bercher, J. Stephen Walker, Dr. John Durham and Kannon Bischoff.
Friends may register in Brenda’s Book of Memories at www.starrettfunerals.com.
James Michael (Mike) Coplin, 72, of Paris, left this world from Paris Regional Medical Center at 11:15 p.m. Sunday July 21, 2013 after a period of declining health. He passed peacefully with his wife by his side. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday July 25, 2013 in the chapel of Starrett Funeral Home, with Rev. Gary Regan officiating. A private interment for the family will take place following the service at Evergreen Cemetery.
Friends may greet the family at the funeral home for one hour prior to the service.
Mike was born December 26, 1940 at the family home in Howland, Texas, a son of John and Faye Coker Coplin. He attended Delmar schools, then Paris High School, where he was a graduate of the class of 1958. He attended Paris Junior College and Texas Tech University before entering the U.S. Navy. Following his military duty he worked for Collins Radio in Richardson, Texas; the Texas Highway Department in Paris, farmed and ranched with his father, then retired from Burlington Northern/ Santa Fe Railroad in 1988.
On July 2, 1985 he married Sue Smith Harbison in Hugo, Oklahoma, and they shared twenty eight loving years. Mike often said that these were the happiest years of his life. After his retirement, they became avid RV-ers, traveling the United States, Canada and Mexico. They then volunteered for the National Park System. He never met a stranger, and continued to stay in touch with many of the people he met at campgrounds. When Mike’s health began to fail, he and Sue returned to Texas, living in San Antonio, Boerne, Lancaster, Fort Worth, and finally returning to Paris to be near his sister and brother. A dear man to all who knew him, Mike will be truly missed. He was a generous, fun-loving man with a sense of humor that he never lost. He was fond of repeating the old adage, “Any man is only as good as the woman he’s with,” then would go on to say, “Mine is a great one. She never wavers when it comes to me.”
Mike was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Pat Coplin; and a brother-in-law, Terry L. Smith.
He is survived by the love of his life of over twenty-eight years, Sue; his daughters, Angie Crozier and husband Steve and Missy Gogolewski and husband Scott; six grandchildren, Ashly Malone, Kaleigh Cunningham, Colin Crozier, and Cade Crozier; a sister, Mary Kay Brown and husband Wayne; nephew Chad Brown and wife Becky; nieces Brandi Stone and husband Cade, Lisa Lemmond and husband Kevin; one great-nephew; five great-nieces; an aunt, Cleo Coplin; a host of other relatives and friends; and his two special “babies,” Jordan and Toby.
Friends may register in Mike’s Book of Memories at www.starrettfunerals.com.
