Evelyn Joan (Hays) Copeland

Evelyn Joan Hays Copeland was born on December 17, 1933, in Corpus Christi, Texas. She finished her life course on May 24, 2021. Joan, as she liked to be called, was the only child of Walter Ervin Hays and Madelyn Alameda Linney. She had fond memories growing up as a child in Kingsville, Texas, where she was part of a loving family centered on her father.

She married Thomas Davis Harrison after high school and they had three children, Pam, Connie, and Tom. Sadly, the marriage didn’t last. Joan then married Sterling Best Combs of Houston and when he died, married John Loyd Copeland of Buffalo, Texas. John passed away in October, 2011, and she remained a widow until her death.

For the past two years, Joan was a favorite resident of the Argent Court retirement community. The nurses really loved her and they would keep her in the office and just keep her company, feeding her snacks and giving her medications. Daughter Connie was a frequent guest and kept her supplied with Twix candies and Dr Pepper. Joan really enjoyed “cruising”, taking drives either short or long, just to get out in the country and see green pastures and livestock. That was the first thing she asked for when the COVID restrictions were relaxed. Many thanks to the staff at Argent Court!

Joan was a bookkeeper and always prided herself in being able to account for every penny. She took that skill of accuracy and turned it to good use in researching geneology. Joan would take her daughter Connie to every used bookstore in the Houston area to look for volumes that would help her get “one last name” to add to her collection. She spent many happy hours compiling her ancestors and “cousins” as she lovingly referred to them. She was a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Canary Islanders Decendants Association.

Survived By:

Children:

Pamela Sue Johnson and husband David

Connie Joan Kelly

Thomas Davis Harrison II and wife Brenda

Winona Faye Corp, mother of Thomas’s children

Grandchildren:

Alfred Zachariah Johnson and partner Laura Brown-Johnson

Cody Phillip Pecos Johnson

Aaron Walter Harrison

Justin David Harrison and partner Lindsay Murray

Jason Troy Harrison and wife Megan

Joshua Thomas Harrison and wife Anna

Taylor Russell Harrison and wife Jordan

Great Grandchildren:

Dakota Lake Johnson

Hannah Harrison

Elias Harrison

Cooper Murray

Jett Harrison

Hudson Harrison

Braelyn Harrison

Jaxon Harrison

Katie Jo Harrison

Anson Harrison

Peyton Harrison

Collins Harrison

William Harrison

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Evelyn Joan (Hays) Copeland, please visit our floral store.