A Celebration of Life for Mr. Shirley Ray Copeland, age 73, will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, November 9, 2024, in the chapel of Livingston Funeral Home. Family and friends are welcome to gather at the time of the service to honor Shirley’s life.

Shirley passed away at his home on Wednesday morning, November 6, 2024. He was born on August 30, 1951, in Overton County to the late Herman and Stella Gore Copeland.

Shirley was a simple man who loved his family and enjoyed life’s little pleasures. He loved spending time with his brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, and sharing stories—some true and some just for fun. He could play cards for hours, never got tired of fishing, and had a knack for spotting ginseng on the mountainside. Horses held a special place in his heart, and he enjoyed just being around them. Shirley was known for telling tall tales, and he always had a way of making people laugh with his good-natured humor.

He is survived by his sisters, Irene Smith of Livingston, Linda Howell of Cookeville, and Dortha Carr of Livingston; his brothers, Joe Copeland of Hilham and Allon Copeland of Livingston; and a large circle of nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.

Shirley was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Howard Copeland and James Copeland, and his sister Agnes Vaughn.

Shirley lived a life full of love, laughter, and connection with the people and places he cared about most. He was a man who truly enjoyed the outdoors, valued his family, and never let a good story go untold. He’ll be missed, but his memory will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew him.