Melissa "Missy" Upenieks Baker Copeland

Melissa “Missy” Upenieks Baker Copeland, 47, of Carroll formerly of Britt passed away at her home in Carroll.

A memorial service for Missy Copeland will be held on Friday, March 8, 2013 at 10:30 AM at the Christian Reformed Church, 569 Main Avenue North, with Pastor Joel DeBoer officiating.  Inurnment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Britt. 

Family will greet friends on Thursday, March 7, 2013, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West, in Britt and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Missy was born in Des Moines, Iowa on September 30, 1965, the daughter of Ilmar and Sharon (Gibbons) Upenieks.

In January 1971, Melissa moved to Britt, Iowa where she attended Britt Community Schools.  After school, she attended Hamilton College.  She met and later married her best friend, Brian Baker, with whom she had three beautiful children:   Matthew Ryan, July 17, 1984; Brooke Ann, September 3, 1988; and Brandon Paul, September 10, 1990.

Melissa enjoyed spending time with friends and family; she especially loved spending time with her grandchildren.  Melissa proudly became known as “nana” on September 24, 2005 when her first grandchild, Natalie, was born.  Her life was additionally blessed with two grandsons, Dillan, December 18, 2002, and Denyon, February 6, 2010.

Melissa is survived by her parents, Ilmar and Sharon Upenieks of Britt, three children:  Matthew of Britt, Brooke (Derrick) of Ainsworth, NE, and Brandon of Carroll, her three grandchildren, her brother, Mike (Julie) of Algona, one nephew, Chris (Kelly) of Forest City, special friend, Brian Baker, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her paternal and maternal grandparents.