Services
Obituary
Gladys Copas, 96, of Britt, passed away Friday, February 8, 2002, at Westview Care Center in Britt.
Gladys Marjorie (Benson) Copas, the daughter of Emma A. (Fox) and Fred D. Benson, was born March 1, 1905 on a farm northwest of Wesley, Iowa. When Gladys was a young girl, the Benson family moved to a farm south of Britt where she became her father's "hired man" doing all the outside work. Gladys attended Britt schools, graduating from Britt High School in 1923. Following high school, Gladys received her Normal Training Certificate and taught in country school for a short time.
In 1925, Mr. Benson purchased a home and the family moved from the farm into Britt. Gladys married Joseph (Joe) Copas in 1925 and they worked on the roads in many different states. To this union two sons were born, Clifton and Billie Lee.
Following her mother's passing, Gladys and her family lived with her father so Gladys could care for him. She held many jobs, wrapped meats at the old "meat marker" in Britt, worked at the hemp plant during the war, worked for Dr. Denny, worked at the "Panatorium" and then worked at the Westview Care Center for 17 years. Gladys would walk to work most of the time and you could see her going to work no matter what the weather rain or snow. One particular cold stormy day she donned her father's old bib overalls, scarf, mufflers and mittens and walked to work so she would not miss work. After she retired Gladys was employed by Sylvia Schutzer for a number of years until Sylvia's death. She then worked for Margaret Formanek for many years until Gladys had the misfortune of breaking a hip, which put her in need of caring for "herself" after many years of always helping others.
Gladys was a lifetime member of the Rebekah Lodge, a member of the Odd Fellows organization and the VFW for many years.
Gladys is survived by one son Billie Lee Copas and his wife LaVonne of Salina, Kansas; daughter-in-law Virginia Copas (Clifton's widow) of Clear Lake; 15 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and 24 great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, two sisters Mrs. Howard Davis of Sheffield and Evelyn Whitehurst of Clear Lake, husband "Joe", son Clifton, and one grandson, Thomas.