Virgie Lee Copaus

Virgie Lee Copaus of Houston, Texas, walked through the pearly gates and was greeted by her heavenly family after passing on March 16, 2025, at the age of 88 surrounded by her family and friends in Kingwood, Texas.

She was born Virgie Lee Luedke at home with the help of a mid-wife on March 27, 1936, in Otto, Texas by her late mother Lena Ida Luedke. Growing up as a young child in Marlin, Texas, she befriended her lifelong best friend Bobbie Smith, and they were a constant presence in each other’s life. In her early pre-teen years, Virgie and Bobbie would take 25 cents every Saturday night they could to see a late-night double feature at the movies. Admission cost 10 cents, and they spent the rest on popcorn, candy bars, and drinks-having the time of their lives. Amazing how money stretched a lot longer back then. In her early teenage years, she would tell her mom she was staying the weekend over at Bobbie’s, Bobbie would tell her parents the opposite, and they would hitchhike from Marlin to Waco where their friend Ruby lived. “Oh my” grandma was a free-spirited girl.

In eighth grade Virgie dropped out of school and began working at the Turkey Plant to help her mother financially and helped raise her little brother Dale as he grew up. He was always with his sister and Bobbie. Around 1955, her and Charlie Copaus started building a relationship, he would drive up to Marlin from Houston to see her often. As their love grew, eventually he moved her down to Houston and they were married on February 7, 1956. Seven children were born to this union. They were married 25 years until his passing in 1981, and throughout their marriage, she remained at home to raise their children.

She loved country music and western shows including Gunsmoke, Wild Wild West, and Bonanza to name a few. She watched wrestling every night it was on, some of her favorite wrestlers included Braun Stroman, The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Charlotte Flair and this list could go on. She knew all the wrestlers’ names by heart. She loved the Golden Girl’s and watched them every day. On Thanksgiving she always brought over her famous sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, and it was delicious. She showed up to every event and birthday she could and was always the first one there. Reading her bible was very important to her and she was a strong woman in faith. She also enjoyed playing dominoes, Chinese food, going to church, walking her dog Misty and just loved being active and living her life to the fullest. Virgie was the most caring, loving, and giving mother and grandmother that our family was blessed to have. She spent her whole life dedicated to taking care of others. Her love ran deep for all she knew and all though her physical presence may no longer grace our lives, her spirit will continue to live on and inspire and uplift all her family and friends forever.

Virgie was preceded in death by her husband Charlie Copaus; her mother, Lena Luedke Coleman; her stepfather, Washington Harris; her biological father, Homer Westerman; her grandparents, Edward and Emily Luedke; her grandson, Jeramy James Murphy; her stepson, Charlie Copaus Jr.; and her son in law, Keith Marksberry.

Her spirit lives on through her seven children; Ricky Copaus, Nicky Copaus, Donna Murphy and husband Brett, Jeanine Koger and husband Mike, Michael Copaus and girlfriend Brenda, Tina Marksberry, and Ginger Copaus; one brother, Edward “Dale” Harris and wife Cindy; 15 grandchildren, Nicky Copaus Jr. and girlfriend Elizabeth, Eric Copaus, Christina Vera, Shaunna Murphy, Shannon Milner, Nina Jones and husband Jonathan, Jared Murphy and wife Michelle, Charlie Koger and girlfriend Bianca, Britney Eaton and husband Jeramy, Lauren Blunt and wife Kakashi, Christina Stanhope and husband Justin, Krystal Marksberry and boyfriend Chance, Steven Bateman and wife Melinda, Kelsey Marksberry, and Kira Marksberry; her lifelong friend, Bobbie Smith Gaetjen; 28 great grandchildren and 2 more on the way; 6 great-great grandchildren and 1 on the way. 56 total descendants and 3 on the way. What an amazing legacy she has left behind.

Visitation will be Friday, March 28, 2025, from 12:00pm-2:00pm at Forest Park East Funeral Home in Webster, Texas. Funeral service will be from 2:00pm- 3:00pm with committal service to follow at Forest Park East Cemetery.

Written by grandson Jared