Conrad Copeland

CONRAD DESPAIN COPELAND Conrad Despain Copeland, 58, of Sunrise Beach, MO, formerly from the Greater Kansas City area, passed away unexpectedly on June 7, 2014 at his home from natural causes. Conrad was born July 1, 1955 in Kansas City to Robert and Rose Copeland and spent most of his childhood years in Raytown, MO. Upon completion of high school, Conrad set out upon a cross country motorcycle trip for six months, a trip for which he valued all of his life. After completion of trade school, Conrad joined the Sheet Metal Workers Union #2, and worked many years in the trade for several companies, specializing in the area of commercial fabrications. He enjoyed Moto crossing events and bass tournament fishing. In January 1993, he married his wife Kathleen, and moved to Louisburg, Kansas where they resided together for 9 years, eventually moving to the Baldwin City, Kansas area. His love of the outdoors eventually brought them to take up residences in Warsaw, MO., Linn Creek, Mo, and finally in Sunrise Beach on the Lake of the Ozarks. Some of Conrad's finest memories were of fishing with friends in Canada and on Truman Lake. He was an avid canoeist and spent many a day drifting on an Ozark stream, camping on a sandbar, catching smallmouth bass and google eye. He also continued to take long cross country trips on his motorcycle, and was proud of having ridden in all 48 continental states. He had hoped to ride solo to Alaska in 2015 with a final trip to Hawaii. He loved house boating on the Mississippi River and following the migration of the eagles. Conrad was an animal lover and particularly mourned the loss of his dog, Smokey who passed at the age of 14 in 2010. He often joked about the fact that as a child, his mother had occasionally been confronted while doing laundry with the presence of some odd snake, lizard, or other "critter". He supported the efforts of several animal rescues, including Wayside Waifs in Kansas City, MO, the Society for the Treatment of Abandoned and Fractured Friends, (S.T.A.F.F.) in Laurie, MO, and Unleashed Pet Rescue in Mission, Kansas. Conrad participated in Habitat for Humanity and made a trip, post-Katrina to help with their efforts. He also never let an opportunity pass to thank a veteran for his or her service to our country. Donations in his memory can be made to any of the above listed organizations. Conrad is survived by his wife Kathleen (Kathy) of the home, his brothers, Robert Copeland and Charles Copeland, his sister, Barbara Sloan, his sister-in-law, Patricia Lyon and husband Kevin, his good friend, Nancy Rhodes, and many other close friends, too many to mention. According to his wishes, his body was cremated and his ashes will be mixed with those of his beloved Smokey and scattered on an Ozark stream. A celebration of his life will be held on a future date yet to be determined. For those of us who loved him, it is comforting to know that his favorite saying was "With Miles Come Smiles." Conrad, we know that you are smiling now.