Mary Copeland

Mary Philomena (Reed) Copeland, 84, of Olathe, Kansas passed on peacefully to Heaven Sunday, December 23, 2018 surrounded by her loved ones.  She had a long, hard fought battle with Frontotemporal Disease and it’s variant Primary Progressive Aphasia that she handled with quiet grace and dignity.

Mary was born March 8, 1934 to William and Eveline Reed in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  She

was the seventh of their nine children with six older sisters and two younger brothers.  She spent the majority of her childhood in Wayzata, Minnesota graduating from Wayzata High School.  Mary continued her education at the University of Minnesota receiving a Bachelor of

Science degree in Education and a Master’s in Education from the University of Kansas.

On August 11, 1956 she married Roger Evan Copeland at St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church in Wayzata, Minnesota. In 1957 they moved to Littleton, Colorado then one more move to Overland Park, Kansas in 1965 where they raised their family.

Mary was an educator for the Shawnee Mission School District teaching at Trailwood and Dorothy Moody elementary schools for 25 years retiring in 1997. She enjoyed anything Jayhawk, needlepointing, reading, the Lake of the Ozarks and traveling to spend time with her sisters.  Mary and Roger were married for 62 years and treasured their time together.

She was a long time member of Church of the Holy Cross in Overland Park and was a member of the Mother Teresa Circle.  She was a member of PEO International and other organizations both social and volunteer oriented, but her greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She was fiercely loyal and devoted to them all never missing an opportunity to support them at any event, and encouraging them to support one another.  Her genuine sincerity, honesty, pure unselfishness and love will be her legacy to both her family and those fortunate enough to call her their friend.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her step father Joy Adams who helped to raise her, her daughter Susan in 1979, three sisters and one brother.  She is survived by her husband Roger, daughters Joanne Herre (Craig) and Christina Copeland, and son John (Erin).  Grandchildren Tim Herre (Margaret), Bill Herre (Rochelle), Megan Davis (Tim), Allie Copeland (Tim Gibson), Brendan Copeland and Mary Grace Copeland.  Great Grandchildren Max, Leo and Sophie Davis and Henry, James, and George Herre. Sisters Jeanne, Joanne, and Peggy (Dick) and one brother Bill.  As well as countless nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Church of the Holy Cross, 8311 West 93rd Street in Overland Park, Kansas. Reception to follow in the church hall. Private family burial.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the AFTD Association, Radnor Station, Bldg. 2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Rd, Radnor PA 19087.

“Your mother is always with you…She’s the place you come from, your first home, and she’s the map you follow with every step you take”.