Esther Lou Copeland

Born April 19, 1914, Este spent her childhood in Bronte, Texas. She "eloped" with Gay Yates Copeland of San Angelo in 1935; her mother gave the couple her blessing and a shoebox of turkey sandwiches in lieu of a wedding during those Depression-era days. They drove with her brother as chaperone to be married in Oklahoma, and celebrated their 71st anniversary together last August.

She ranched with her husband near San Angelo and San Antonio until World War II, when she brought her two young sons to be with their father near the various Navy air bases around the country at which he was stationed. After the war, by then with a baby daughter, she settled her family on their ranch in Sutton and Schleicher Counties.

She regularly brought her children to San Antonio for cultural events, including performances by the Metropolitan Opera and the San Antonio Symphony. She instilled in them her love of music, art, and reading, and was particularly fond of poetry, history, and biographies. She hunted and fished, more for the camaraderie than for the sport. Upon retirement, her love of adventure was satisfied by Spurs' and Cowboys' games and by a fierce passion for politics.

After leaving ranch life in the 1960s she lived in Rockport, Kerrville, and San Antonio, but was never a stay-at-home housewife. She crisscrossed the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico in the couple's boats and motor homes, making many friends along the way, and frequently visited Europe, Asia, and the Near East. She was everywhere active in church, civic, and cultural affairs.

She is survived by her husband Gay at the family home in San Antonio; by a sister-in-law Virginia Copeland of Paige, Texas; and by her children Ralph Copeland, of McCamey, Texas; the Rev. Dr. Richard Copeland, of Georgetown, Texas, and his wife Andrea; and Gayle Copeland, of San Antonio, and her husband Jim Jacobs. Her heart was big enough to hold four grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and their children. The family is especially grateful to her granddaughter Tracy Pentland, who was her companion during her last years, and to her special assistant Cindy Frazier and her devoted caregivers Nellie Williams, Harriet Walker, and Carmel Garner.

Memorial Eucharist will be celebrated Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of Reconciliation, 8900 Starcrest Drive, Fr. Cliff Waller officiating, with interment later at Fairmont Cemetery in San Angelo. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Christus VNA Hospice of San Antonio, the San Antonio Symphony, or your favorite charity.