Florenia "JoAnn" Copeland (Granny)

JoAnn Copeland (Granny), 82, of Selah, WA, formerly of Tieton, WA, passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 22, 2019. She was born January 20, 1937 in Kansas City, KS to Arthur and Thelma Russell.

JoAnn is survived by her daughter, Nancy, and son-in-law Danny Jones; her son Steven Copeland; granddaughters and spouses Melissa and Terry, Kelly and Derek Prescott; great-grandchildren Isaac, Norah, Olivia, Ethan and Wyatt. In December of 1956 she married her husband of 44 years, Bill Copeland, who preceded her in death in 2000. Her siblings are Melvin Russell, Howard Russell, Glen Russell, Vernon Russell, Leota Hull, Elizabeth Hutchinson, Dorothy Collins, and Starlin Startzel.

JoAnn worked for Evans Fruit for 40 years, retiring at the age of 70 in January of 2007. She enjoyed reading, history, mystery books, and keeping up with current events, reading the newspaper every day. She also enjoyed gardening, tending to her herbs and flowers. Though she wouldn’t admit to it, she enjoyed the company of her cat, spoiling him with special canned foods. The biggest joy in her life was her family and all of her very special great-grandchildren. Granny was one of the toughest women we’ve ever known. She was feisty and yet the kindest soul. She taught us all to work hard, love family with everything you have, and to help others where and when you are able. We remember her being up before sunrise, taping her fingers for work each morning to keep the cracks from bleeding, working all day, coming home and making amazing dinners, and always being the last to bed without ever a complaint or ever asking for anything in return. She was always there to help family no matter what, and was always so happy and humble to be able to help. The holidays were always graced with her famous fruit salad and meringue pies in every flavor, nearly a pie for each person.

JoAnn will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her, but we will forever count our blessings to have had such an influential role model in our lives, and will hold dear all that we have learned from her.

A celebration of life will be Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Harman Center, 101 N. 65th Ave., Yakima, WA. 

In lieu of flowers, she would ask that you take the time to help someone in need in her memory.

To share a memory of JoAnn you may go to www.keithandkeith.com