SALINA --Norma “Jean” Copeland, 89, died March 13, 2013 at Kansas University Medical Center. She was born December 30, 1924, at Coffeyville, Kansas to Earl R. and Dollie M. (Young) Ford.
On January 10, 1942 she married James Franklin Copeland. He preceeded her in death, October 28, 1986. She was a member of the Mullinville U.M. Church in Mullinville, and Trinity U.M. Church in Salina. She lived in several Kansas towns as a young girl, as her father was a minister in the United Brethren conference: Kimball, Fort Scott, Wichita West Side, and then Mullinville where she met her husband, Frank. Together they raised their family of three sons and three daughters on the family farm that Frank’s parents built and raised their family.
Jean worked as a secretary and bus driver for the Mullinville Grade School, as bookkeeper for Greensburg Equipment and Hildinger Lumber in Greensburg, and lastly as bookkeeper for her son, Rod, at his optometric practice in Dodge City. Jean was an office volunteer for Hospice of Salina.
Survivors include her children: Vic (Joyce) Copeland of Rancho Santa Fe, CA., Greg (Karen) Copeland of Sylvan Grove, Linda (Gregg) Gilmer of Salina, Kathy (Tom) Stickney of Olathe, Nancy (Donovan) Lee of Lawrence, Rod (Patti) Copeland of Dodge City, and her beloved 21 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.  Her husband, parents and sister, Peggy Swanson, preceeded her in death.
A memorial service to honor Jean’s life will be held  at 11 a.m. Friday, March 22, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Salina. Private family graveside ceremony on Saturday, March 23, at Hillcrest Cemetery in Mullinville. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to the Mullinville U.M. Church or Trinity U.M. Church, Salina in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th St., Salina, Ks., 67401.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Ryan Mortuary*
137 N. 8th St.,
Salina, Ks., 67401
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, March 19, 2013