Born in Buffalo, Missouri on August 2, 1929, Polly Ann Copper was the third of four daughters born to Benjamin Franklin Copper and Chloe Johnson Copper.  The date of her passing was July 30, 2024, four days shy of her 95th birthday.

Graduating from Buffalo High School in 1947, she entered Drury College in Springfield.  She also attended the University of Missouri and Southwest Missouri State but returned to graduate from Drury College.  Graduate work was done at Long Beach State University and Drury College where she received her Master's in Education.

Polly has been involved in education for over fifty-four years.  She taught at Macks Creek, MO, Crisfield, MD, and spent twenty-two years teaching at Holland Elementary in Springfield, MO.  She left Holland in 1976 to become the principal of Sequiota Elementary, remaining there for ten years.  During those years in the public schools, she taught in the evenings at Drury College and at Southwest Baptist University in their Schools of Extended Studies.  After she retired from the public schools in 1986, she continued her association with Drury University as Coordinator of Field Experiences in the School of Education retiring from there in January, 2006.

First Baptist Church in Buffalo, Mo was her church home for over fifty years.  At the time of her passing, she was a member of Golden Avenue Baptist Church in Springfield MO.  Polly was a member of Epsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, Chapter LC of PEO, the Meongo Chapter of DAR, Zeta Tau Alpha Alumna, and a life Member of the Missouri State Teachers' Association.

Polly was preceded in death by her parents Benjamin Franklin Copper and Chloe Johnson Copper of Buffalo, MO, her sister and brother-in-law Peggy Copper Fontaine and William Fontaine of Princess Anne, MD, sister Virginia Copper Derry and brother-in-law Darby Derry of Houston, TX, Sally Copper Shantz of Springfield, Missouri, brother-in-law Don Shantz of Buffalo, MO and her nephew Copper Derry of Clear Lake Shores, TX. She is survived by her loving and devoted nieces and nephews.  She was second mother to Joe Shantz (Melissa) of Rogersville, MO, Bo Shantz (Dianne) of Cape Girardeau, MO, Ann Fontaine Lewis of Westover, MD, Jane Fontaine of Ocala, FL, Debi Derry Finklea (Charles) of Dallas, TX.

Also surviving are her great nephews and nieces.  She was a special Granty to Ben and Riley Shantz of Springfield, MO and Hunter and Polly Copper Shantz of Cape Girardeau, MO.  Polly also leaves Jamie and Justin of Maryland and David, Daniel, Jonathan, Jessica and Darby of Texas. At last count there were twenty-four great, great nieces and nephews.

Polly is also missed by many other family members, colleagues, students and dear friends.  She has resided the last nine years at the Montclair in Springfield and has many special friends there.

Memorials may be sent to Golden Avenue Baptist Church in Springfield, MO in care of Gorman Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 E. Seminole St. Springfield, MO.  Visitation for Polly will be on Sat. Aug 3, at 10 AM with service at 11AM at the funeral home. Burial will be following at Oaklawn Cemetery in Buffalo, MO.

Polly's Service will be live streamed at the All Occasion Video Springfield MO Facebook Page which can be found by clicking here .