Oklahoman Archives
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
November 10, 2011, p 19

 

Judy A. Copeland
        January 28, 1969 - November 6, 2011

EDMOND
"In a gentle way, you can shake the world." - Gandhi

Judy Ann Copeland was born on January 28, 1969 in El Paso, Texas. Her well-lived life came to an abrupt end on Sunday, November 6, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In between, Judy loved, laughed, and inspired a countless number of people she met along her journey. Born to Donald Dean and Mary Lucille Herber, Judy was the youngest of five siblings. An excellent student, Judy graduated as Valedictorian from Stroud High School in 1987 and went on to Northeastern State University, graduating Cum Laude with a B.A. in Political Science in 1990. She then went on to the University of Oklahoma to obtain her Juris Doctorate in 1993.After graduation, Judy began an extensive legal career with the Oklahoma State and Federal Governments. Initially, she worked with the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office under the Honorable Drew Edmondson from 1993 to 1997, followed by positions in the Oklahoma Governor's office as both General and Deputy General Counsel under the Honorable Frank Keating from 1997 through 2003. Judy then went on to the Oklahoma Court District Attorney's Office and subsequently to the U.S. Attorney's Office where she worked from 2004 until she took her position as legal counsel to Oklahoma's first female governor, Mary Fallin in 2011. During her esteemed career, she met the love of her life, Terry Copeland , M.D., and they were married in October of 2005. Just recently celebrating their 6th Anniversary, their immense love was inspirational and touched everyone around them with the joy they shared. They traveled the world together, hand in hand and thoroughly enjoyed entertaining their many friends and family. While certainly bright and accomplished, Judy will be missed the most for her sincerity, generosity and love for her family, including her dear dog Reagan, and dear friends. Her life was marked by the genuine relationships she shared with so many and so unselfishly. An avid cook and excellent baker, everyone looked forward to her seasonal treats and the great care she took in making them. Judy had a passion for sports, especially for the University of Oklahoma Sooners as well as the Oklahoma City Thunder. She had a love for life that cannot be matched and lived each day to its fullest. Judy was well-loved, her life was well-lived, and she will be well-remembered.

Preceded in death is Judy 's father Donald Dean Herber and brother, Donald Dean Herber, Jr.

Judy is survived by her husband Terry, mother Mary Lucille Herber, sisters Mary Paula Herber and Dixie L. Herber, brother Theodore R. Herber and wife Pat, as well as nieces and nephews Bo and Dixie L. Vejil, Billy R. Rosier, David R. Herber, Casi R. Herber, also included are grand nieces and nephews Amy, Doris, Daphne, Billy Jr., Holly, John, Dillon, Ashley and Marcus.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 11, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Edmond. Friends may leave condolences at Crawford Family Funeral and Cremation Service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue, P.O. Box 57139, Oklahoma City, OK 73157 or The Judy Herber Scholarship Fund, Stroud Public School, 212 West 7th, Stroud, Oklahoma 74079.