A. B. Copeland

A. B. Copeland, Jr., 89, passed from this life on Thursday, September 5, 2013 at his home in Huckabay, Texas. Memorial service for A B will be held on Sunday, September 8, at 2:00 PM at the Huckabay Church of Christ with Kevin Mackey officiating. He was born on January 10, 1924 to A. B. and Sallie (Mason) Copeland. He was raised on the Copeland homestead farm in Huckabay, TX and spent most of his life there. After graduating from Huckabay High School, he began college at Tarleton State University and was drafted at the age of 19 into the U. S. Army with Boot Camp at Fort Hood. He served 44 months with the 7th Division Infantry in the South Pacific, including Okinawa and then as part of occupation troops in Korea during WWII. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, and Pacific Campaign Medal with one battle star and an Honorable Discharge. He was recalled to service at the outbreak of the Korean War to train artillery troops at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He came home and completed his agricultural degree at Abilene Christian College in 1952 and to Huckabay to work on the Family Dairy Farm. A. B. married the love of his life, Mary Esther Clark on Dec. 29, 1956, to whom he was married 56 years. Eleven months later their first child, a daughter arrived, followed by four sons. A. B. was a dairyman and rancher. He was a long time and faithful member of the Huckabay Church of Christ, where he also served as an elder. A. B. loved to handcraft jewelry made out of stone that he would find, as well as beautiful wooden boxes and walking canes. Many friends and family were recipients of his handcrafted gifts. A. B. leaves behind his wife, Mary Copeland; a daughter Sallie Mackey and husband Kevin of Three Rivers, TX; son Robert Copeland and wife Teresa of Leander, TX; son David Copeland and wife Margie of Huckabay, TX; son Brian Copeland and wife Deanna of Santo, TX and son Sam Copeland and wife Alice of Huckabay, TX. He also leaves behind 20 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandsons. 3 more great-grandchildren are on the way. He also leaves his caregiver Dawn Few and her family who have been such a blessing to the Copeland family and the folks from hospice and many other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents: A. B. and Sallie Copeland; his sisters: Twala and her husband Malcolm Hale and Robbie Copeland; nieces and nephews and a daughter-in-law: Sharon Johnston Copeland.