Service: Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, at Coffman Funeral Home in Harrison, with burial at Western Grove Cemetery; Visitation: Noon - 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, at the funeral home.
Donald Gene “Dink” Cope, of Western Grove, passed away Monday, Sept. 17 (2018) at the age of 73.
The son of Paul and Lear (Hendrix) Cope was born May 17, 1945, at West Plains, Missouri.
Dink moved to Arkansas 53 years ago. Shortly after arriving in Harrison, he married Frances. Luckily for him, his new father-in-law, Hosea Gladden, put him to work at Gladden’s General Store in “tight wad” aka Western Grove. Yes, luckily. For it was at the store he first became acquainted with the many fine people, and the lovable characters of the Grove. He never needed to leave.
He was a member of the Bluff Springs Masonic Lodge No. 103, served several years on the Western Grove School Board as well as a volunteer fireman of the Western Grove Fire Department. He attended Western Grove Bible Church with pastor “Den.”
He worked many years at the Arkansas Highway Department District 9 and the Arkansas Forestry Commission. While working, Don and his family ran a dairy farm for many years.
Dink loved his family; he was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved fishing and camping and also enjoyed eating, celebrating and telling old stories.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Jason Cope; two brothers, Paul T. “Buddy” Cope and Donnie Ray Cope; and three sisters, Joyce Hansley, Pauline Dickard and Judy McFarlan.
Dink is survived by his wife of 53 years, Frances Cope, of the home; his son, Jeff Cope and wife Lea Ann, of Bentonville; four sisters, Glenda McClellan and husband Jessie, of Harrison, Janice Connell and husband David, of Sante Fe, Texas, Kaye Taylor and husband Jerry, and Debbie Knapp and husband Rex, all of Harrison; four grandchildren, Carmen Hadley and husband John (John was more than a granddaughter’s husband, he was considered his son), Chelsea Cope, Donovan Cope and Devon Cope; three great-grandchildren, Jase, Jaxen and Jensen Hadley; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends who loved him and will miss him dearly.
Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, at Coffman Funeral Home Chapel in Harrison, with Wesley Gladden and Daryld Pottorff officiating. Burial will follow at Western Grove Cemetery.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Honorary pallbearers will include current and former Arkansas Forestry Commission employees: Chris Wyatt, Shawn Smith, Doug Lowery, Harold Brasel, Billy Harris and Ace Downes.
Flowers are welcome or you may make a donation in his memory to Western Grove Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 28, Western Grove, AR 72685.
So live, that when thy summons come to join that innumerable caravan, which moves to that mysterious realm, where each shall take his chamber in the silent hall of death, Though go not, like quarry-slave at night, scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave, like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him, and lies down to pleasant dreams. – Thanatopsis
“Watch your top-knot” Dad
Online condolences may be left at www.coffmanfh.com .
