Gladys L. Copeland

    Gladys Lavaughn Copeland, 97, of Taylor, passed away in Flagstaff, on Oct. 9, 2009.
   Gladys was born in Memphis, Mo., on Aug. 1, 1912. She and her family moved to Phoenix when she was 11 years old and lived there for 46 years before moving to Vista, Calif., then Show Low, and finally to Taylor in 1987.
   She and her husband Wilford Copeland were instrumental in bringing the White Mountain Christian Church into existence in Show Low. Gladys was a homemaker first and foremost, but also worked as a cafeteria manager in Phoenix for many years. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed. She unselfishly cared for her own mother for 20 years before her mother’s death. Her family has been blessed with her presence in our lives.
   She is survived by her only daughter, Carol (Barry) Henderson; five grandchildren: David (Marlo) Henderson, Brian (Helen) Henderson, Leslie (Robin) Cornell, Donna (Scott) McNeil and Lee Henderson; 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
   She is preceded in death by her husband, Wilford Copeland; parents, Charles and Fannie Morton; and one sister, Harrietta Talbot.
   A visitation was held Oct. 14 in Snowflake, and burial was at the East Resthaven Cemetery in Phoenix on Oct. 15.
   Owens Livingston Mortuary of Snowflake handled the arrangements.