Ricky “Rick” Eugene Copeland

Ricky “Rick” Eugene Copeland, age 71, of Earlville, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, with family at his side.
 
Rick was born in Berrien Center, Michigan, on May 11, 1953, to the late Wilford and Frances Lorine Copeland. He lived and attended school in Bardwell, Kentucky, and Cairo, Illinois, before leaving home.
 
Rick had several occupations throughout the years, including logging, ironwork, construction, and the cable industry. After retirement, he served as an activities coordinator at Prairie Crossing Living Center, caring for the elderly. He once said he had done a lot of work in life, but he truly enjoyed working with the elderly and considered many of them friends.
 
Rick lived his years as a man of faith, attending Heritage Christian Center in Ottawa, Illinois, and accepting Jesus as his Savior. He was a good, kind man who never met a stranger. He was a loving husband.
 
Rick is survived by his wife of 33 years, Debra Black Copeland; his sisters Marma Handly, Frances Sutton, Anna Haws, Debbie Copeland, Laura Stucker; his brothers Jesse Copeland, Donald Copeland, David Copeland, Anthony Copeland, Michael Copeland, and their families respectively.
 
He is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Ritafaye, Fredricka, Velton, and James Copeland.
 
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Bardwell, with Rev. Larry Lunsford officiating.  Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery in Bardwell.
 
Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until the service time of 1:00 PM on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at the funeral home.
 
Share a memory or leave a message for the family at www.milnerandorr.com.