Mary Alice Copeland

Mary Alice Ballester Copeland, 93, of Exeter, California passed away on Thursday, February 12th surrounded by her loving children.  

She was born July 12th, 1932 in Chino, California, to Bernabé and Asunción Ballester and grew up in Ontario, California embraced by an extended family who had emigrated from Spain.  

She graduated from Chaffey High School in 1950 and Chaffey Junior College in 1952 with an A.A. degree in Secretarial Science. She began her career as a legal secretary and later worked for the President of Cal Poly, Pomona where she met the love of her life, Ray Copeland.  

They married in 1958 and lived in Corvallis, Oregon where Ray continued his education at Oregon State University.  Their first child, Jim, was born there in 1960.  The young family moved to Visalia, California where Ray was the 4-H Farm Advisor, and where daughters Karen and Susan were born.

In 1968, the family settled in the community of Lindcove.During this time, Mary Alice devoted herself to raising her children. She worked in her children’s classrooms, led the PTC, tended her home garden, taught sewing in 4-H and played the piano in church.

Mary Alice worked at the Exeter Continuation High School where she managed student attendance.  In 1977, she was hired as an Administrative Assistant and Interpreter at the Woodlake Circuit Court, serving until her retirement in 1985.

After Ray retired, they travelled extensively and had time for hobbies and volunteer work.  Mary Alice also supported Ray in his businesses by typing his farm notes when he did consulting work, and by keeping the books for farms they owned with the Gorden family. She enjoyed crafting: sewing, quilting, macrame, embroidery, and pottery.  She devoted her time to the Boys and Girls Club of Exeter where she served on the board.   She was a member of the Church of God of Exeter, the Pink Ladies Guild and the Exeter Garden Club.  

She is preceded in death by her husband, Ray, her parents Bernabé and Asunción Ballester, and her brother Raymond.

Mary Alice is survived by her children and their spouses, James and Tina Copeland, Karen (Copeland) Bray, David and Susan (Copeland) Fritz; her 5 grandchildren and their spouses 4 great grandchildren.

Mary Alice’s life was a testament to devotion-to family, to faith and to community-and she will be remembered for her steady kindness, gracious spirit and the love she so freely gave.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Church of God of Exeter, on Saturday, February 28th, at 11 a.m.  

If you wish to send flowers, please send them to Jim Copeland, 2405 West Firebaugh Avenue, Exeter, CA  In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Exeter.

Mary Alice’s family wish to express their heartfelt thanks to the care partners at Quail Park who cared for her.

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