Cecil Willis Copley

Cecil Willis Copley November 26, 1940 – December 29, 2025
Cecil Willis Copley, age 85, passed away peacefully on the evening of December 29, 2025, at approximately 10:00 p.m., at Tampa General Hospital in Brooksville, Florida. After a courageous 18-month battle with liver cancer, complicated by gastric ulcers and severe esophageal strictures, Cecil departed this life surrounded by love-his devoted wife, Lanie Copley, and nearly all of his children and grandchildren at his bedside.
Cecil is survived by his wife, Lanie; his children Peggy, Darla (Matt), Ronda (William), Kevin (Amanda), Charles (Ashley), David (Miranda), and Ashley. He was a deeply proud and loving grandfather to Leann, Annalee, Shella, Nolan, William, Kenzi, Kody, Karlie, Kendal, Zackary, Reese, Grace, Maddie, Colton, Hunter, Braden, and Bella, as well as a beloved uncle and cousin to many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
He was preceded in death by his first wife and the mother of his children, Elizabeth; his second wife, Judith; his parents, Cecil and Shirley; his sisters Wilma Jean, Rosalena, and Ecleta May; and his brothers Jack and Ursel.
Born in Ethel, West Virginia, Cecil later moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he graduated high school. After losing his mother at a very young age and being raised by a father struggling with alcoholism, Cecil could have chosen bitterness-but instead, he chose resolve. He rejected a "poor me" mentality and forged an unyielding work ethic that defined his life and success. Those early hardships shaped a man who believed deeply that attitude, not circumstance, determines destiny.
Cecil often recalled that the moment he laid eyes on his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth, he told a friend he would marry her-before he had even been introduced. That certainty guided much of his life.
Following high school, Cecil joined the United States Army, where his discipline and drive quickly distinguished him. He rose through the enlisted and warrant officer ranks and proudly served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. His service eventually led him to assignments under General Alexander Haig and President Richard Nixon at the White House, as well as positions at the Pentagon.
As a leader, Cecil was firm, direct, and unwavering in his principles. He believed deeply in standing for what was right, often echoing the sentiment, "You have to stand for something, or you will fall for anything." Though he held strong boundaries, he was highly respected and deeply valued by those who served alongside him. Even decades later, colleagues would recount the life-changing advice Cecil offered during their service.
As a father, Cecil was honest about his imperfections. Having grown up without parental guidance, he once said, "I was never taught how to be a good father, so I did my best to give my children what I never had." For Cecil, love was expressed through providing food on the table, clothes on their backs, and a roof over their heads. To him, there was no greater devotion.
After retiring from the military, Cecil continued to work-first as a factory foreman and manager, and later as an over-the-road truck driver, a role he cherished most. His love of travel never faded.
Later in life, Cecil was given a second chance at fatherhood when three young children-distant relatives of Elizabeth-faced being separated in foster care. Refusing to allow that to happen, Cecil adopted them without hesitation. Determined to do better, he embraced every opportunity to show up: baseball games, road trips, bowling nights, birthdays, and football games. Hugs came often. Gifts were generous. Love was tangible.
When Elizabeth's health declined after 52 years of marriage, Cecil devoted himself fully to her care. Her passing devastated him so profoundly that just four days later, he locked the door on a house filled with memories and never returned.
In time, Cecil found companionship again with Judith ("Judy"), another widow whose grief mirrored his own. Long phone conversations-stretching late into the night-blossomed into enduring love. With Judy, Cecil finally experienced retirement, travel, and rest until her passing 12 years later.
True to his lifelong instinct to care for others, Cecil later married his childhood friend Lanie, standing faithfully beside her through her battle with breast cancer. He supported her with unwavering devotion until his own health no longer allowed him to do so.
Cecil loved his family deeply, even when words failed him. He had a passion for wrestling, travel, and the English language-particularly grammar. Armed with a red pen, he was infamous for editing his children's papers with surgical precision, often leaving them in a cold sweat at the sight of pages marked end to end. That red pen became a family legend, retold with laughter for years.
Cecil's legacy is one of resilience, service, and responsibility. He believed that while we cannot always control our circumstances, we can always control our attitude. In the end, he taught that a life is not measured by possessions, but by kindness, memories, and the love we give.
And by that measure, Cecil Willis Copley lived a life that mattered deeply-and one that will never be forgotten.