Beryl Lu Copess…May 16, 1929 – May 29, 2015

Graveside memorial services for Beryl Copess will be held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at the Union Valley Cemetery in Hasty, Colorado with Nathan Gumke officiating.  Cremation has taken place per Beryl’s request.

Beryl Lu (Sheldon) Copess was born in Dodge City, Kansas, to Owen Kent and Frankie Muriel (Graham) Sheldon. She passed away at her home in Hasty, Colorado, at the age of 86 in the presence of her family.

Beryl Lu was lucky enough to live in Hasty, Colorado, among friends, neighbors, and a community that watched out for them as they also do with one another, and thereby allowing Beryl Lu and Bud to live out the remaining days of their 63 year marriage in the family home. The family is grateful to the Ark Valley Hospice of La Junta, Colorado, for their wonderful and compassionate assistance in making the last days as comfortable and with dignity.

Beryl Lu Sheldon lived in the pan handle area of Texas, western Kansas, South Dakota, and studied art and fashion design in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She also taught school in Southeast Colorado for some years before she married.

Beryl Lu was very involved with her grandchildren, Richard and Kate. She made it a point to attend as many school and social functions as possible to show them she cared about them. She took delight in helping Richard and Kate celebrate the holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions as they grew up. Many times she would sit in the audience and watch them with pride. She loved watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up, and she was there for them and will always be a part of their lives.

Beryl Lu loved to draw and paint and was always “doodling” and making pencil drawings of faces and clothing designs. She loved to work crossword puzzles and word-find puzzles.

Beryl Lu especially loved to travel and get out and see what was around. One of the favorite times of her life was going “on the road” with Bud when he was a long-haul trucker working for International Transport. Together they traveled many miles and saw a lot of our country. Those travels of Beryl and Bud provided many stories “down at the store” where they both loved to visit and catch up on the gossip of the day.

Beryl Lu is survived by her husband of 63 years, Bud Copess; son, Rick Copess and  wife, Kim; granddaughter, Kate Copess all of Lamar, Colorado;  grandson,  Richard Wertz and wife, Jennifer; and three great grandchildren, Josiah, Shiloh, and Liberty Wertz, currently of Council Bluffs, Iowa; many other relatives and a host of friends.

Beryl Lu was preceded in death by her parents, Owen and Frankie Sheldon; and daughter, Connie Lynn Copess.

Memorial contributions may be made to Arkansas Valley Hospice in care of Horber Funeral Chapel P.O. Box 431, Las Animas, CO 81052.

For more information or to leave online condolences please visit www.horberfuneralchapel.com.