Janet Singer Copeland

Janet Kelsey Singer was born in New York City on April 25, 1921 to Maude and Murry Singer, the first of five children. So began the journey of life that would bring nurturing, joy, learning and love to so many... her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, students, and friends. She grew up in New Rochelle, NY, the daughter of the owner of the fur department at Bergdorf Goodman. After graduating from the University of Michigan, she joined the Navy much to the dismay of her parents. It was then that she met a young, tall, handsome cowboy from Texas, Wesley William Copeland, Jr.

They moved to El Paso via Bay City and Taft, Texas where their five children were born. He was a principal, and she was a first grade teacher. She loved every one of her students, and she made sure they knew it when she was teaching at Western Hills and Hart. In later years, next to their children and grandchildren, Janet and Wesley most enjoyed time on the tennis court at Tennis West, working in their tennis shop, Centre Court, playing golf at Anthony Country Club and raising and showing German Shorthair Pointers.

They were together for 67 years until his death January 24, 2011, and were rejoined on April 6, 2013.

Janet, Mom and Nanny will be missed by her daughters Maureen Britton and husband Bill (Austin), their children Ryan Britton and wife Nicola, Kelsey Davies and husband James; Cathy Birkelbach (Dallas), her children Zack and wife Haley, Lara Cassidy and husband Chris, and Grayson; Ellen Lott and husband Sam (Houston), their children Jeremy, Allison, Sharon, and Jordon and wife Lisa; sons, Clay Copeland and wife Debra (Austin), their son Christopher, and Kevin Copeland and wife Eleanor (El Paso) and children Carrie, Courtney and Joy. She had the additional blessing of 13 great grandchildren.

Services are pending at St. Francis on the Hill Episcopal Church at 6280 Los Robles to celebrate her incredible life and the joy she brought to all who were lucky enough to know her.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a fund established in the names of Janet and Wesley Copeland to benefit education through the El Paso Community Foundation, P.O. Box 272, El Paso, TX (79943) or at www.epcf.org.