Edgar Lee Riley Cope

1918 - 2010

Edgar Lee Riley Cope went home Friday, Feb. 5, 2010, at the age of 91 with Loy Belle, his faithful wife of 70 years at his side.
Funeral: 3 p.m. Monday in Biggers Funeral Chapel. Interment: Azleland Memorial Park. Pallbearers: Brian Cope, Brandon Cope, Stacy McDougall, Patrick Lewis, Frankie Mitchell, Harold Lynch.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Christ's Haven for Children, 4150 Keller Haslet Road, Keller, Texas 76248.
Ed was born in Porteau, LaFlora County, Okla., on Nov. 2, 1918, to George Watson and Bessie Netherlain Cope. At an early age the family moved to Texas and Ed grew up in Wise County. As a young man during the Depression he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps where he learned vocational building skills and sent money to his mother to help out with the family. On July 11, 1939, Ed married Loy Belle Reno in Wise County. They moved to Fort Worth in 1941 and made their home here.
Ed worked for Swift and Company for 15 years. In 1957 Ed, along with Wallace N. Smith, formed Cope and Smith General Contractors. Cope and Smith served as general contractors for schools in Azle, Springtown, Acton, Granbury, Bridgeport, Arlington, Grapevine, Colleyville, Keller, Burleson, Crowley and Fort Worth as well as hospitals in Decatur and Stephenville, a federal prison in southeast Fort Worth, the Northwest Tarrant County Sub-Courthouse and many other commercial buildings. He left a big mark on the DFW area. He was a member of American General Contractors, the Lake Worth Lions Club, a charter member of the Lake Worth Breakfast Club and longtime member of Northwest Church of Christ.
Ed enjoyed his family and friends. He loved the outdoors, gardening, traveling, and spending time at his second home in Creede, Colo.
Special thanks to the Manor Care staff and Vitas Hospice staff.
Survivors: Wife, Loy Belle Cope of Fort Worth; son, Gene "Butch" Cope and wife, Pam, of Lone Camp; daughter, Sandra Cope of Fort Worth; son, Gary Cope and wife, Cheryl, of Fort Worth; brother, Aubrey Cope; brother, Herman Cope and wife, Melissie; sister, Thelma Gillian, all of Wichita Falls; grandchildren, Gina Cope Lewis and husband, Mark, of Abilene, Jill Cope Rambin and husband, Mitch, Brian Cope, Stacy McDougall and wife, Amy, Dusty Cope, Brandon Cope, all of Fort Worth, five great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, in-laws and cousins.