Martha "Marty" Copeland-Shay

Martha A. "Marty" Copeland-Shay, age 69, of Schoolcraft died Sunday, December 27, 2015. Marty was born in Dayton, Tennessee on November 4, 1946, the daughter of James E. and Gladys M. (Dotson) Stewart and moved to Michigan with her family in 1953.

Marty resided in Battle Creek until 1991, when she moved to Hastings with her husband, until they moved to Schoolcraft in 2005 where they built their retirement home. She worked for more than 15 years as an accountant for the Grand Rapids Police Department. Marty's greatest accomplishments in life were her children and grandchildren.

Marty is survived by her children, Tammie (Bill) Whipple of Galesburg, and Craig (Jennifer) Copeland of Schoolcraft; her grandchildren, Dillon Whipple, Paige Copeland, and Kaleb Copeland; two sisters, Margaret (Jerry) Lashley, Margie (Don) Dunn, and several nieces & nephews. She was sadly preceded in death by the "Love of Her Life", Bob Copeland in 1986; her baby, Scott Copeland in 1970; her "Later in Life Love" whom she married in 1991, Jack Shay in 2009; her parents; three brothers, William, Jimmy, Dewey, and her sister, Barbie.

Graveside services to celebrate Marty's life will be held 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at the Hicks West Pennfield Cemetery, Battle Creek. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Arrangements by Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Personal messages for the family and/or favorite memories of Marty may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.