John Edgar Copelin

John Edgar Copelin, 80, of Lexington, Nebraska, passed away Wednesday, September 9, 2015, at his home. John was born June 24, 1935, in Shidler, Oklahoma, the son of Hall Terrell and Iota Gretchen (Farmer) Copelin. He grew up 7 miles east of Newkirk, Oklahoma, at Hilltop grocery store. John attended Sweetwater School from 1st – 8th grades. He then attended and graduated from Newkirk High School in 1953. He attended Oklahoma A&M University for a year, and then joined the Army in January of 1955, serving until his honorable discharge in 1956. He married Ernestine Wealand on March 26, 1956. Four children were blessed to this marriage, Larry, Kay, Gayla, and Jay. He left active duty in June of 1956, and enrolled at Oklahoma A&M, graduating in June of 1960, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. Following graduation from OSU, he went to work for Maurer-Neuyer Packing Company at the Kansas City Stockyards. After one year, he and his family moved to Arkansas City, Kansas with Maurer-Neuyer. One June 1, 1963, the family then moved to Dodge City, Kansas with a group of Maurer-Neuyer executives that started a new packing company called HyPlains Dressed Beef, and worked for them for just over 20 years. He eventually became head cattle buyer. In 1983, an opportunity came along to lease a livestock auction house in Blackwell, Oklahoma. After much prayer, he felt the Lord lead him and his family to move and operate the sale barn. After one year of an unsuccessful operation, he closed down the sale barn and began a cattle order buying business. In 1986, the owner of HyPlains Dressed Beef and Cornland Dressed Beef in Lexington, along with his plant managers and superintendents were killed in a plane crash near Norfolk, Nebraska. John was asked to become head buyer for Cornland, which after much prayer he accepted and moved to Lexington in June of 1987. After the closure of Cornland, he stayed in Lexington and started John Copelin & Associates. He retired in February of 2012. John was a man of faith. His greatest desire was that everyone he met would have what he had, a personal relationship with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was a faithful member of Parkview Baptist Church. John was such a kind man. He always had a smile, always inquired how you were, and never, ever met a stranger. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Ernestine “Ernie” Copelin of Lexington, Nebraska; his children, Larry Copelin of Lexington, Nebraska, Kay (Gerald) Kruleidis of Ponca City, Oklahoma, Gayla (Bill) Megason of Flower Mound, Texas, and, Jay (Jill) Copelin of Newkirk, Oklahoma; four grandsons, Joel Megason, Matthew Megason, Kyle Copelin, and Ty Copelin; one granddaughter, Allyson Copelin; one sister, Merlene (Paul) McCord of Hurst, Texas; as well as extended family and many friends. John was preceded in death by his parents. John’s body has been cremated. There will be no visitation. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be Friday, September  18, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at Parkview Baptist Church in Lexington with Pastor John Shields officiating. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. at Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell, Nebraska with Full Military Honors. Memorials are suggested to Parkview Baptist Church or Central Plains Home Health & Hospice. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.