In Memory - November 17, 1945 - January 28, 2001

Janice Kay Coppock was born on this date 75 years ago in Le Mars, Iowa, to Helen (Kern) and Clyde Coppock .  She joined her brother Darrell at their home at 608 3rd Avenue, SE.  

The family later moved to 809 2nd Avenue, SE, where they lived until Jan was 12 years old.  The photos below range from about 1950 - 1956.  

In elementary school, she was quite tall for her age.  Jan enjoyed all types of games and sports.  She took piano lessons for several years, and she enjoyed reading and playing outside with friends.  We both enjoyed music, and one year, we sold Christmas cards to the neighbors, earning enough money to buy our own pink and gray 45 rpm record player.  Elvis was our favorite!

In junior high and high school, she was a cheerleader, drum majorette for the marching band, and a member of the Sparkettes drill team.  Jan graduated from LCHS in 1964, and she graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, MO, in 1966, with an Associate of Arts Degree.  While there, she met and fell in love with William W. (Bill) Bates III. 

After being employed by United Airlines as a flight attendant (they were then called stewardesses), Jan and Bill were married in Le Mars in September of 1968.  Bill was a naval officer, and they lived in Providence, R.I. and San Diego, CA, before moving to Storm Lake, Iowa in the mid-1970's.  They then moved to Topeka, KS.  Bill died unexpectedly in April of 1989. 

Holiday gatherings were enjoyed by all, and we had many fun Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners as a family.  The photo below was taken at Jan and Bill's home in Topeka in the mid-1980's.   

 Jan and Bill left three wonderful children:  Kim Bates Scott, Suzanne Bates Jackson, and William W. (Bill) Bates IV.   Jan would be so proud of them today. 

Like her Dad, she was taken much too soon.  Jan died of congestive heart failure on January 28, 2001, at her home near Holton, Kansas.  One of my favorite pictures is one taken New Years Eve of 1995.  Though we were all concerned about her smoking, as Mother used to say, "That's just Jan".  Her laugh was contagious, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say, "We miss you so much."  R.I.P.

DAC 11/17/2020