Gene Copeland - Class of 1958

[Bob]

Earl Eugene (Gene) Copeland, age 75, of Knoxville, passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2015. He was a retiree of the Knoxville Fire Department with thirty-two years of service, and he was employed at Medic Regional Blood Center for thirty-five years. He was a lifelong member and deacon of Lonsdale Baptist Church, and attended West Lonsdale Baptist Church.

Preceded in death by wife of forty-eight years, Carole Copeland; sister, Joyce McGinnis; and parents, Earl and Dessie Copeland. He is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Jeff Sewell; granddaughters, Alli Sewell, and Sara Walker and husband, Tim; great-granddaughters, Caroline Walker and Waverly Walker, who is due to arrive in July; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim and Georgia Copeland, and Eddie and Luann Copeland; special friend, Iva Pippin. The family would like to offer special thanks to the caregivers over the last year and a half, to the Courtyards Assisted Living and Avalon Hospice, and to his personal sitters.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at Rose Mortuary Broadway Chapel. A celebration of life service will follow at 7:00 p.m., with Rev. Todd Halliburton officiating. The family and friends will meet at 9:15 a.m., Wednesday, June 24, 2015, at New Gray Cemetery for a 9:30 a.m. interment service. Online condolences may be extended at www.rosemortuary.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/knoxne ... sPaI0.dpuf