Marian Emmeline Copeland

Former Grants Pass resident, Marian Emmeline Copeland, age 98, of Smithfield, Utah, died May 8, 2025 at her home.

Marian Emmaline George Copeland, was born November 26, 1926, in Nailsea, Somerset, England, to Mr Oliver James George and Mrs Winnifred Hortense Cole George. She was the 3rd of 5 children: Denzil James, Margaret Lucy Catherine (Rendell), Marian, Robert Nicholas and her youngest brother, Ronald Percival.

Marian grew up in England, near Bristol, then Launceston and later in Plymouth. During World War II she lived through the Plymouth bombings, running for cover in their backyard bomb shelter. When their schools were bombed and destroyed, Marian and her two younger brothers, Bob and Ron, were evacuated to live with strangers in Cornwall for safety. The boys were sent to Penzance and Marian to Truro.

While she was in Truro, her father passed away in 1942. Marian completed high school after another year in Cornwall, then came home and began testing milk at a local dairy to help her mother pay the bills.

Her sister married an American sailor in 1945 and moved to the United States. In 1948 Marian boarded the Queen Elizabeth luxury liner to cross the sea and visit Margaret in California. It was during her visit that she met and married her husband, Willis Mitchell Copeland, or 'Tony' as he was known. Although she left England vowing to return in two years, she only went back to visit a few times in the ensuing decades. She became a proud United States citizen in 1964 but always held a love for her homeland tenderly in her heart.

Marian and Tony were married on the Bride and Groom Show, a radio show of their time. They were interviewed about their fun story of how they met, and then the show paid for a beautiful wedding, presented them with many wonderful gifts, including furniture, china, and silverware - even a puppy! Their honeymoon to Montana 'Big Sky Country' was also provided by the program. It’s a fun story and we still have the tape of the radio interview.

Tony and Marian were the loving parents of four daughters and made their home in Riverside, California, before moving to Bellevue, Washington and Grants Pass, Oregon in their later years. Other than her family, Marian's great passions were singing opera, serving others and sharing her testimony of Jesus Christ.

Marian was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served in many callings including Relief Society President and Young Womens President. She and Tony served a service mission helping others in attaining employment as well as serving many years in the Seattle, Washington and Medford, Oregon Temples.

She was a good friend to all who knew her, always looked out for others and was a shining example of service to others and Christ-like love.

Marian is preceded in death by her loving husband, Tony, her parents, brothers Jim and Bob and sister Margaret. She is survived by her brother, Ron (Pam) George, daughters Carol (Bill) Brown, Jean (Dave) Patton, Susan (Neal) Barrus and Barbara (Brett) Sharp, 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchilden who all adore 'Grandma', 'Mom', 'Nana' and are eternally grateful for the loving, faithful example she was to all of us.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., May 27, 2025, in the Relief Society room at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 747 NE Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon, 97526. Private interment will be at Eagle Point National Cemetery.

A zoom link will be provided for those who would like to join the family remotely to honor and celebrate the memory of our dear Marian.

Please share memories of Marian in her Guestbook.