Riley Joe Copeland

Funeral services for Riley Joe Copeland, 19, of Chireno will be held at 2pm on Friday, December 6, 2024 at Chireno Baptist Church with Bro. Rebel Bleile officiating.  Visitation will be held from 5-8pm on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at Laird Funeral Home. 

Although there is a bit of anger and feeling of unfairness and senselessness that took Riley Joe from us, we still must seek to find joy in knowing that his life meant more than even he knew.

Riley Joe has always been the goofy one that brought a smile to everyone around him.  He gave the best hugs and never allowed bad things to overshadow the great life he looked forward to living. He was a hard worker and loved his job as a welder. The guys he worked around became like family and he never wanted to let them down, and he never did.  

Although Riley Joe found his calling and pursued the career he loved, nothing could compare to the love he had for his family.  He was, by definition, a mama’s boy and also knew his dad would always be around if he needed him.  A small-town boy, growing up with lots of people to look up to and a vast group of extended family members, is nothing to shake your head at.  Those that knew him the best, knew his potential and supported him in all he did.  The family that is given to you is important and so are the ones you choose for yourself.  Riley Joe found the one he chose.  He and Haydee were inseparable and the life they planned together was beautiful and something Riley Joe looked forward to.

Knowing and loving Riley for the short time he was here will never be enough for his mama and daddy, his sister, his precious Haydee or his grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and many friends.  However, his journey here on earth leaves a legacy that each of them have a part in carrying on.  Even though they must face life without him, they will strive to represent the bigger picture of what his life was here on earth and keep his memory alive.

Riley Joe is survived by his loving parents, Buddy & Jessica Copeland of Chireno; sister, Brooke Copeland of Chireno and his fiancé, Haydee Venegas of Chireno.  He is also survived by his grandparents, Dan & Sheila Legg, Carolyn & JR Wingate and Chuck & Teresa Copeland; great grandparents, Martha Starkey and John & Brenda Wingate; aunts and uncles, CJ & Wendy Copeland, Nic & Jennifer Copeland, Jon Copeland, Alex & Kathy Legg, Kristy & Timothy Forsythe and Kim & Steve Hopkins; Numerous cousins, including Carson, Zane, Avery, Briley, Elizabeth, Aubree, Olivia, Kyler, Kaegan, Kazlynn, Harlynn, Jacob, Madison, Dustyn, Lauren, Ryan, Chase and Ethan.  He also leaves behind numerous great aunts and uncles and a multitude of great friends that meant the world to him.

He is preceded in death by his cousins Jarod Quinn and “Little T” Forsythe.

A private interment is planned at a separate time for immediate family only.    

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