Jack Vernon Copley

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Mr. Jack Vernon Copley passed away quietly, surrounded by his family at his home in Blytheville Friday evening, Feb. 28, 2014. He was 79 years of age.

Jack was the third child of six children born to Cecil and Shirley Copley. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Wilma Jean Barre, Ecleta Mae Copley, Ursel Paul Copley and Rosalena Ashley

In 1956, Jack married Melba O'Kane of Cooter, Mo., and from that marriage were born two children, Tammy West and her husband, Steve, of Blytheville and Kenny Copley and his wife, Tiletia, of Kennett, Mo. Melba preceded Jack in death July 17, 1989.

Jack was born July 1, 1934, at Ethel, W.V. After attending school in West Virginia, he worked in the automotive industry most of his life. General Motors sent him to Convair Aircraft Blueprint School in California in 1955, after which he worked at various automobile facilities in Michigan, Indiana, and in Blytheville. In Blytheville, he was a foreman of the tool and die department, superintendent, and assistant plant manager of the Randall Corporation until he retired.

Jack was drafted in 1956 by the U.S. Army and served two years as a military policeman in Germany as a guard on trains traveling to and from Frankfurt and Berlin through Soviet occupied territory. After completing his military service, he returned to his love of manufacturing.

Jack is survived by his wife, Patricia Ann Copley of the home;

His children, Pastor Kyle Rhea and his wife, Rebekah, of Scott, Ark., and Kevin Rhea and his wife, Mala, of Greensburg, Ind.;

A brother, Cecil Willis Copley and his wife, Judie, of Junction City, Kan.; and

Nine grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at noon Wednesday in the Cobb Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Marion Cornett of Walcott, Ark., officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time Wednesday at Cobb Funeral Home and burial will follow the services at Number 8 Cemetery in Cooter, Mo. Condolences may be expressed to the family on line at www.cobbfuneralhome.com