Copenhaver, Gayle E.

Gayle E. Copenhaver, 67, of Independence, died on Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, in the Hospice Room at the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church in Independence with Rev. B.J. Ukena officiating. Burial will be in Wilson Cemetery in Independence.

Friends may call for visitation from 4 until 7 p.m. on Monday, at the White Funeral Home in Independence.

She was born on Nov. 2, 1941, in Oelwein. She was the Valedictorian of the Oelwein High School Class of 1959, and in 1964, she graduated from Cornell College in Mount Vernon with a BA in English.

Mrs. Copenhaver is survived by her son, Steven (Amy) Copenhaver of Independence and her two daughters, Ann (Mick) Fletcher of Iowa City, Iowa, and Sarah (Jay) Beaver of Homestead. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Josey, Maddie, Olivia, Nathan and Drew, and her brothers, George Thom of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Roger (JoAnn) Thom of Cantonment, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one daughter, Laurie Lynn, in infancy.

Online condolences may be left at . A memorial fund has been established for Cedar Valley Hospice, 801 1st Str. E., Independence, IA 50644.