Grace E. Coppinger

Grace Ella Spinks was born Apache and Klamath Indian on April 18th 1928. She was raised in Muskogee Ok. At the age of 20 she married the love of her life Wallace Jess Coppinger on March 19th 1948 and they were married for 67 years. They had 4 children, Roy Leslie, Glyn Reed, Wallace Jess Jr and Katherine. All three boys all served in the armed forces.

In the early days Klamath was one of the tribes. Later in the years, I was change to Karuk Tribe. Happy Camp California

In her early years, she was post master at Bacone College where her mom and dad raised her and both had tremendous influence in the school. She was extremely proud of her Native American heritage as her home is displayed with many artifacts of that. Her mother Alice Spinks thought Indian Art Class at Bacone College and Grace has several homemade mementos from her. Later in the years Alice took up wood crafting. She started out with a bear and different animals and worked her way up into craving an Indian man and it was added into the Smithsonian. You always knew you couldn’t go wrong if you gave her a gift reflective of her heritage. She displayed everything proudly! They lived in Del City where she stayed in the same home throughout her life.

She enjoyed bowling, bingo and also loved going to the casino. She won many bowling trophies. When she was younger, the family always took trips to the Illinois River in Tahlequah. She loved watching the children play in the water. She and Wallace loved to fish. Kathy remembers her dad hunted frogs one time and no one would eat them, and then one of the boys tried one and the rest followed and they ate them all up. Mom and dad just laughed about that. Going to bingo was something she enjoyed her whole life, many grandkids and Lanette Coppinger and Kathy would accompany her to bingo

Through the years her grandchildren were always involved in her life. They were Angela, Jess, Paul and Heather, then a few years later Gracie and Eric. She loved swimming in her pool in her backyard. In the summer they would stay up late and watch movies. She always cooked breakfast for everyone and she made the best pancakes! The Grandkids especially remember her special dishes such as fried eggplant, and Indian fry bread. They celebrated many birthdays and Christmas’ together. Everyone remembers her always saying “Oh, Fiddlesticks”. Later in life, her son Jess took care of her needs and he was the primary caretaker of her. And Kathy visited often. She would go during the weekends and stayed sometimes during the week when mom wanted her too and they were very close as well. And she still liked to stay up late…everyone knew that if you went to visit you went in the afternoon. Kathy would spend a week or two with her mother Grace. They played games together late at night.

Grace learned how to bead from her mother Alice. Mom made lots of key chains and medicine ball necklaces and mini medallion necklaces and more and Grace thought Kathy how to make the Apache lace necklace.

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Grace Ella Spinks-Coppinger was born April 18, 1928 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Roy and Alice Spinks. She was born and raised in Muskogee, Oklahoma by her parents. She grew up on the campus of Bacone College living in a log cabin. Grace passed away peacefully in her sleep alongside her only daughter on June 15, 2020 at 2:34 am.

Grace is survived by her brother Roger Spinks, sister Mary, her son Jess Coppinger Jr, daughter Katherine White, grandchildren Angela Reim, Jess Coppinger, Heather Aguilar, Paul Coppinger, Grace Ayala, Erick Walling, her great grandchildren Brice Coppinger, Braydon Coppinger, Casady Stursa, Hope Stursa, Abie Reim, Addison Ayala, Lukkas Ayala and her great great grandkids Zayden Coppinger.

Grace went to Bacone College where she met her husband to be Wallace Coppinger. They were married on the campus of Bacone College in the old chapel. She participated in many bowling leagues, played bridge, played bingo and enjoyed taking care of her many grandkids. She was warm hearted, a caring woman and loving mother.

Visitation for viewing will be held at Sunnylane Funeral Home at 4000 SE 29th Street in Del City, OK on Wednesday, June 17th, 2020 4-6:30pm. Pastor Tim Richardson of Del View Baptist Church will officiate service, which will be held at Sunnylane Funeral Home on Thursday, June 18th, 2020 at 2pm following with a graveside service.

Grace will be laid to rest in Sunny Lane Cemetery in Del City, Oklahoma next to her husband Wallace Coppinger Sr.