Terry Lyle Copper

Terry was born in Canon City Colorado on June 11, 1950, to Clarence and Lola Copper. He is one of 7 children, 1 sister and 5 brothers.

In his younger years, his parents and the family would move up into the mountains where his dad ran a portable sawmill. Terry often talked about his dad and his mules “Kate, Jack and Gennie” and how his dad skid logs with the mules.

Terry and his oldest brother could be found fishing when he was younger.

His mom moved her husband and family to CD’A Idaho in the fall of 1968 where Terry entered his senior year and met his wife, Geraldine Hastings. They were married the following fall of September 1969 and shared 57 years together.

Terry and his wife were blessed with 2 sons, Clarence and Billy Copper, who in turn blessed them with wonderful daughter-in-laws, and they blessed the family with 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. He so loved engaging with them and always answering questions or telling stories of the days when he was young. If someone made a mistake his response was “did you learn anything”?

He loved his garden areas especially with the pumpkins, sunflowers and bee hives. He could sit in front of or near the hives for hours, relaxing. It brought him peace and satisfaction.

One highlight of Terry’s life was when God blessed us with a trip to Uganda and Sudan, Africa, an experience we reminisced about often.

There was a period of time when we were living in Arizona and went to Kayenta, Terry played Santa for the local schools and trading post. He loved how the children and parents responded. Once he dressed up for our grandchildren and they said, “we knew it, we knew he was Santa”.

In Terry’s last days, he occupied his time by doing diamond art kits. He loved blessing others with them when he finished a project.

He also put together numerous wood puzzle kits of models from clocks, Ferris wheels, marble runs, cars, trains and musical instruments.

Terry had a deep faith and belief in God. Family was everything to him.

He loved going hunting and fishing and being outdoors. He loved time in his shop building something, he was quite the woodworker.

He retired from Potlatch Lumber Co. after 20 years and participated in the tear-down. Then he went to Laclede Idaho and worked in the Riley Creek Lumber Co for another 20 years.

He loved huckleberry pie, peach cobbler and homemade bread, especially when his wife made cinnamon rolls.

He would always tell the funniest stories about life, “Who is Terry?” He was the best storyteller that the family can recollect. Everybody in the family loved Terry. He wanted everyone to be calm and get along. He has always been the first one to step up if anybody needed help; he was there to answer the need without questions asked.

He was proud to share with people that he was a Veteran and that his brothers were also, because serving his country was important to him.

Terry treasured the year his brothers Mevin and Don blessed him with a corvette and corvette jacket. He was proud and honored to tell others what they had done for him.

Terry was preceded in death by 4 of his siblings and his parents. Terry put up a good 5-year fight during his battle with cancer. We faced this challenge with positivity and hope up to the moment he passed over into he arms of Jesus and our Heavenly Fathers glory. “No more pain”.

Arrangements have been entrusted to English Funeral Chapel Crematory & Aquamation. A service will be held at a later date and will be posted here on this website.