Duane O. Copeland

Duane O. Copeland left his beloved family very suddenly on Tuesday, April 10, due to an aneurysm. Duane was born October 8, 1935, in Springfield, Mo., to Allan G. and Marion (Brown) Copeland. A 1953 graduate of Central High School, Duane attended Southwest Missouri State College as an Art Major. He later attended Drury University, majoring in accounting. Duane worked for Knight Oil Company/Vickers Petroleum for 23 years, advancing from warehouseman to controller. He later worked for Jones Realty as a vice president-controller. Upon his retirement, he assisted son Kevin in a family owned business for a number of years. Duane is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Yvonne; son, Kevin and his fiancee, Kristen Johnson; granddaughter, Alyssa; sisters, Noel Pickering and husband, Steve, of Springfield, Mo., Lynn Fleisch and husband, Rod, of Little Rock, Ark., Karen Netzer and husband, John, of Hot Springs Ark.; a brother-in-law, Stan Morton of Bergman, Ark.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Keith; and a niece, Erin Engel. Duane's gentle, loving manner and quiet dignity will be missed by all who knew him. The body has been cremated. A memorial service will be held in Greenlawn Funeral Home East, 3540 E. Seminole, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Southwest Missouri Humane Society.