H. Gaylan Cope, 1938-2012rn

02/03/2012
The Rev. H. Gaylan Cope, 73, of Booneville passed away Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, at home.

He was born April. 21, 1938, in Granby, Mo., a son of Harry and Virginia Cope. He graduated from Laura Speed Elliott High School in Boonville, Mo., in 1957; graduated from the University of Missouri with a B.A. in political science and history in 1961; and a Master of Divinity and Theology in 1980 from St. Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Mo. He moved to Arkansas in 1982. On Dec. 23, 1989, he married Suzanne Sims.

He served in the Army National Guard, and as an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, he served 35 years in United Methodist congregations of Arkansas and Missouri, including First UMC Mena, Rector, St. Paul in Searcy, Wesley in Springdale, and Lincoln. After retiring in 2005, he continued to serve as the pastor of Washburn United Methodist Church, Washburn, Ark., until his death. Gaylan devoted his life to the service of others and was dearly loved by family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Suzanne; four brothers, Greg Cope and his wife, Connie, of Omaha, Neb.; Reggie Cope and his wife, Ellen; Danny Cope and his wife, Mary, all of Sedalia, Mo.; and Jonathan Cope, and his wife, Julia, of Springfield, Mo.; two daughters, Debbie Williams of Blue Springs, Mo., and Lisa Middlebrooks and her husband, Tom, of Springfield, Mo.; two stepsons; five grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 21 at First United Methodist Church Booneville, with the Revs. Sam Williams Jr. and Gerald Hollaway officiating.