Elizabeth Ann Copley's Obituary
Elizabeth Ann Copley, 93, of Fort Pierce, Florida, passed away peacefully on Saturday evening, May 16, 2026, surrounded by the love of family. Kind, funny, and quietly formidable, she was a woman who made room for others — in her home, in her heart, and around her kitchen table. Born Elizabeth Ann Sellards in Buchanan, Kentucky, to Raleigh and Shirley Sellards, she was raised with a love of learning that stayed with her all her life. She graduated from South Point High School and carried a lifelong devotion to books — particularly the sweeping historical novels of Taylor Caldwell, whose stories she returned to again and again. A voracious reader to the very end, she believed deeply in the value of education. In 1955 she married Birch Copley, and together they made their home in Proctorville, Ohio, where they raised four daughters. She later relocated to Fort Pierce, Florida, where she would spend the greater part of her life, build friendships and make a home in the warm southern sun. Elizabeth was a woman of Christian faith — one who loved God genuinely and without need of performance. Her faith was quiet, personal, and steady, woven into the fabric of who she was rather than worn on her sleeve. In her final years, Elizabeth was tenderly cared for by her daughter Lora Beth and son-in-law Greg Hearn, with whom she lived in Fort Pierce. In February 2025 she moved to Proctorville to be with her daughter Kim, and it was there, encircled by family, that she spent her last months. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Leigh Ann Copley, who passed away in 2011, and by her parents, Raleigh and Shirley Sellards. Elizabeth is survived by her daughters Kim Spaulding (Glenn) of Proctorville, Ohio, and Lora Beth Hearn (Greg) of Fort Pierce, Florida; her daughter Susan Copley of Fort Pierce, Florida; her granddaughter Kerienne Gannon of Fort Pierce; her grandson Tyler Howard of Fort Pierce, FL: her grandchildren Kinner Spaulding and Katie Spaulding of Proctorville; and her siblings Larry Sellards, Sue, Judith, and Peggy. No services are planned at this time. Those who wish to honor Elizabeth’s memory are invited to make a donation to Hospice of Huntington, West Virginia, whose compassionate care meant so much to her family. “She was a reader, a laugher, a keeper of hearts.” Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, OH are assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family at https://www.ehallfuneralhome.com.
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