William “Bill” Coppock, passed away on Thursday, April 2, 2015, in Kalispell. His passing was the result of failing health from an auto accident 31 years ago.
Bill, the second of three children, was born on Nov. 3, 1941, in Battle Creek, Michigan, to Clyde Coppock and Edna (French) Coppock. The family eventually moved to Omak, Washington, where Clyde worked in construction on various dams and bridges. Clyde “retired” to become an apple orchardist, with hay for a sideline.
Bill graduated from Omak High School where he was a fearless football player. He worked for the Department of Natural Resources while still in school, and then as a logger for Art Fulford.
He married Barbara Doner from Okanogan, Washington, and they had two children, Catherine and Donald. Bill worked a short time for Biles Coleman, Omak and then Columbia Valley Millworks in Okanogan. His last job was for Okanogan County Department of Public Works as a traffic control officer and in vegetation management.
A better father could not be found. He was always there for his children, doing everything from coaching Don’s Little League team to helping with the 4-H horse project kids.
On Aug. 4, 1984, he had spent his usual vacation as an adult volunteer at the Lost Lake 4-H Camp. Driving home, he fell asleep at the wheel and was critically injured, just 2 miles from home. Hospitalized a year in Harborview Hospital, Seattle, he came home a paraplegic with limited use of his right arm and hand.
A lesser man would have given up, but he worked hard to regain full use of his right hand, and started making picture frames for Barbara’s art. A dream for both was to live in a forest with a lake. Flathead Valley in Montana fit the bill. Their art business made it possible. Bill loved the wildlife surrounding him, the view from the deck, picnics in their Haker Woods, and great friends in the Kalispell area.
In 2008, came the long predicted kidney failure and dialysis treatment began. Bill lived for seven years under the incredible care of the DCI Clinic in Kalispell. The staff and the patients were a second family for him. Finally, his long courageous battle ended at the Northwest Healthcare Hospice Center.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, Clyde Coppock; and sister, Vivian (Coppock) Bergstrom.
Survivors are his mother, Edna; wife of 52 years, Barbara; daughter, Catherine (Coppock) Laws; grandson, Kevin Laws; son, Donald Coppock, and wife Lonni, with granddaughter Katelyn Coppock and grandsons Trace and Gage Coppock; brother-in-law, Phillip Bergstrom; and last, but not least, best friend and brother, Dick Coppock, and wife Bonnie.
There will be two memorial services: the first for friends and family in the Flathead will take place at 1 p.m. on April 11, at Volunteer Park, right in the center of Lakeside. Also, Bill will be going home to the Okanogan Valley for a celebration of life at 1 p.m. on June 20. Friends and family will gather at the Old Flour Mill, 96 Pine Street across the river in Okanogan.
In lieu of flowers, family asks that memorials be made to the Lakeside Community Club, P.O. Box 481, Lakeside MT 59922; Okanogan-Omak Rotary Club, P.O. Box 2031, Omak, WA 98841; or the charity of your choice.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is handling arrangements. Visit www.buffalohillfh.com for online obituary and comments.