Mattie Jo Copeland

Mattie Jo Rice Copeland, affectionately known as “Doe” (or “G-Doe” to her grandchildren), passed away in her sleep early Tuesday morning, March 11, 2025. She was 96 years old. A gracious lady, known for her endearing smile and quick wit. She will be dearly missed.

Doe was born on April 4, 1928, in Odessa, Texas, to Flora English Goodwin and Joe Wiley Rice. Sadly, Flora died two weeks later from complications following the birth. Doe was lovingly cared for by her father and paternal grandmother, Annie Rice.

When Doe was five years old, Annie’s health began to fail. Around that time, her aunt Lottie died, leaving two young children motherless. Their father, Roy (Flora’s brother), moved his family to Denton to form a home with his sister, Cora Alice, and their mother, Martha Jane. Cora extended an invitation to Joe for Doe to join their home. He agreed. Joe continued to support them financially and visited often.

As time went by, both Cora Alice and Martha Jane experienced progressive health issues. Though still a young child, Doe embraced the opportunity to support them with loving dedication. She picked wildflowers on her way home from school, and together with her aunt and grandmother, they arranged them in mason jars to decorate their home. She knew they were both dying. Compassion was a cornerstone of her character.

Her father remarried and wanted Doe to move back to Odessa. She asked if she could remain in Denton with her aunt and grandmother until they passed. Her father understood.

When she was nine years old, her grandmother died, and her aunt died shortly after. Her father came to Denton, helped with the transition, and brought his beloved daughter home.

In Odessa, she was welcomed joyfully into an active home filled with her stepmother, Ida Elizabeth Rice, affectionately known as “Dido,” stepsister Helen, stepbrother Dan, and her new baby sister, Ida Jean, whom Doe nicknamed “Muffet.” Doe thrived in this loving home, filled with the hustle and bustle of a growing family.

In 1945, Doe graduated from Odessa High School and enrolled at Texas State College for Women, TSCW (now known as Texas Woman’s University, TWU), in Denton. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Speech in 1949. Education was a cherished profession to Doe. Both her mother and aunt were accomplished educators, and she knew teaching was her calling. She first taught Speech in the small West Texas towns of Pyote and Kermit before moving to Galveston to teach there. She was later accepted into the graduate program at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and then at the University of Denver, where, in 1953, she earned her master’s degree in Speech Pathology.

Doe married Dr. Sam P Copeland, Jr. in October of 1953. After their honeymoon, they reported to Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina, where Sam served as a Naval Medical Officer, LTJG. Sam served on the USS Sarasota on a three-month tour of the Mediterranean Sea after the Korean War. Doe and some of the other naval wives followed the ship on land, meeting their sailor husbands in each port.

In 1955, Sam was honorably discharged from the Navy. He, Doe, and their infant son, “Trey” (Sam III), moved from Camp Lejeune to Silsbee, Texas, where he joined his medical school friend, Wade Parker, in general practice.

Doe generously invested her time and skills as well. She opened a private speech therapy practice for children. She worked on a variety of issues with an emphasis on developing the brain’s communication and the mouth movements of kids who stutter. She had outstanding success with her students.

As her family grew to five rambunctious children, she closed her practice to focus on their many interests. She served as Cub Scout and Blue Bird leader, multiple times as Home Room Mom, and was a frequent costume and poster creator.

In addition, she was an avid golfer, a skillful bridge player, and a member of the Garden Club, the Women’s Club, the Little Theatre, and the Victery Sunday School Class at the Silsbee Methodist Church.

In 1981, Doe and her daughter Helen moved to Austin, Texas. Helen was a sophomore in high school. Doe found work in the antiques and gifts business. She was an active member of Toastmasters International.

She retired in 2001 and was welcomed into the home of her son Joe, his wife Gina, and their son Alex. She and Joe enjoyed cooking meals together for family and friends. They spent evenings on the back lanai, watching birds in the backyard. Doe took up knitting and found joy in creating personalized blankets for her extended family and many close friends. She was a creative scrapbooker, and along with her daughter Helen,she organized family photos and recorded family histories and memories.

Doe spent her summers in Traverse City, Michigan, with her son Sam, his wife Marilyn, and their son Max. Together, they attended Camp Michigania, where she polished rocks, created pottery, and produced glass treasures. She enjoyed the Cherry Festival, the Film Festival, Old Town Playhouse productions, and cool summer evenings with family and friends gathered around a fire.

Doe was active in her church, Christ the King Presbyterian, where she was known for her enthralling scripture readings during services. She was also a regular volunteer at the Abiding Love Food Pantry. Her goal was to give everyone a reason to smile.

Doe was preceded in death by her parents, Flora Goodwin Rice and Joe Wiley Rice of Odessa; stepmother, Ida Shaw Rice of Odessa; sister, Ida Jean Rice Allbright of Athens; her stepsister, Helen McLendon of Odessa and Alpine; and stepbrother, Dan McLendon of San Antonio.

She is survived by her children: Sam P Copeland III of Traverse City, Michigan; Laura Eldredge of Houston; Joe Wiley Copeland and his wife Gina of Austin; Alice Copeland and her husband Steve of Oswego, New York; and Helen Walker and her husband Stephen of Kyle; her grandchildren: Ross Daniel Copeland of Los Angeles, California; Matthias Joseph (Max) Copeland of Traverse City, Michigan; Franklin Lee Eldredge and his wife Caroline of Houston; Alice Katherine (Katie) Eldredge and her wife Ali of Atlanta, Georgia; Alex Wiley Copeland and his wife Emily of Austin; Clare Mackenzie Copeland of Dallas; Timothy Christopher Walker of Bristol, UK; Natalie Joy Walker of Austin; and her great- grandson Elijah Jones Eldredge of Houston.

Her greatest joy was spending time with “her people.” She loved being a mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, friend, church member and, on New Year’s Day 2024, she added great-grandmother to her list of joys with the birth of Elijah.

There will be a brief viewing at Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home, 705 N Locust, Denton, Texas at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 17th followed at noon by a graveside service at IOOF Cemetery, 711 South Carroll Blvd, in Denton.

A Memorial Celebration of Life will take place at Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Austin on Tuesday, March 18, at 1:00 p.m., officiated by Pastor Tim Fox.

In lieu of flowers, you may honor Doe with a contribution to Christ the King Presbyterian Church or Hospice of Austin.