John Smith Copley, M.D.

July 10, 1932 - February 09, 2010

John Smith Copley, M.D. Obituary John S. Copley, M.D.,Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Physician and Marine, joined our Heavenly Father Tuesday, February 9, 2010 after a valiant fight with cancer in the comfort of his home with his loving wife and children. John was born in the family home in Walsenburg, Colorado on July 10th, 1932 to Oscar and Lila Copley. He was graduated from Sidney High School in Sidney, Nebraska. After attending the University of Colorado at Boulder, John joined the United States Marine Corps. He was on the way to Korea when the Korean War ended and his ship was diverted to Japan. He served as Company Clerk at Camp Gifu until his return to the U.S. He was stationed in Lincoln, Nebraska where he achieved the rank of Sergeant and served as a Marine Recruiter. While recruiting at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he met Mary Laura, through his sister Marjilyn. John and Mary Laura were married and embarked on a life journey together with love and memories spanning over 54 years. John worked through Medical School at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine, his Internship and Internal Medicine Residency at Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane, Washington and a medical career that spanned 35 years. In his career, he helped establish Emergency Medical departments at various hospitals in Washington and Colorado, and practiced at Holy Family Hospital in Spokane. He later specialized in Occupational Medicine with his own practice in Spokane and as the Medical Director at Kaiser Aluminum in Spokane. In 1983 the family moved to Tucson where he served as Medical Director for Hughes Missile Systems Company until his retirement in 1997. Upon John's retirement, John and Mary Laura returned to Spokane, a place where they had many friendships that they maintained over the years and a place that was always very special to them. John lived his retirement years in the place he wanted to be, traveling occasionally to visit kids and grandkids and enjoying his close friendships and his family. His Christian faith, family and medicine were the highest priorities in his life. John and Mary Laura were blessed with six kids, including two sets of twins, 18 grandchildren, and one great-grandson. John was preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Lila (Smith) Copley, sisters Clarise Copley, Annette Barnes, and Marjilyn Drysdale. John is survived by his wife Mary Laura; daughters Amy and Greg Stene, McKinney, Texas (children Lauren, Megan, Sarah), Beth and Ron Farmer, Gilbert, Arizona (children Amy/Travis Behrens and Katie); sons David and Anne Copley, San Juan Capistrano,California (children Alex, Jill, Cari, and Kyle), John and Rebecca Copley,Spokane, Washington (children Andrew, Matthew, Luke, and Anna), James and Kelly Copley, McKinney, Texas (children Hannah, Cameron), and Dan and Molly Copley, Tucson, Arizona (children D.J., Ryan, Ellie) and one great-grandchild (Dean Behrens). Viewing will be at Heritage Funeral Home on Thursday, February 18th from 3 pm to 5 pm with Memorial Services at 1 pm the 19th at Lincoln Heights Community Church, with graveside services to follow at 3 pm at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. For those who wish, flowers can be delivered to Heritage Funeral Home or, in lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Hospice of Spokane.