Obituary of Doris Copley

Doris Elaine Copley was born in Beatrice, Nebraska on January 10, 1923, the third of six children born to William and Maplet (Stanhope) Moore. She passed away on April 30, 2016 in Littleton, Colorado. The family lived on a farm north of Flagler, Colorado. Doris graduated from high school in 1940 and went on to attend a year of college in Greeley, Colorado. Making a decision to help in the war effort, Doris moved to California to become a “Rosie the Riveter”. She worked for both North American Fighter Planes in Inglewood, producing P-51 Mustang bombers, and Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica, building A-20 bombers. The goal was to roll out an airplane every night. The plants didn’t have much patience for illness or time off; once during a graveyard shift, Doris dropped a heavy object on her toe. She simply cut the toe out of her shoe and kept working. Doris married David Copley in Yuma, Arizona on November 29, 1942. Their reception was held in the Hollywood home of the mother of actor Robert Taylor, the bride’s cousin. Mr. Taylor was in attendance, along with his wife Barbara Stanwyck. Doris and David eventually returned to the farm in Flagler, where daughter Donna Lorraine and son William Ernest were born. The couple divorced in 1953. To support her young children, Doris attended beauty school and opened the Deluxe Beauty Salon in Limon, Colorado. She worked in this profession for years, then worked for Hoffman Drug until she retired at age 80. Doris enjoyed golfing, bowling, needlework and china painting. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. Preceded in death by her parents; siblings Edwin, Alice and Virginia; and son-in-law Gary Strong. Survived by siblings Harold and Norma; daughter Donna Strong and son William (Ellen) Copley; four grandchildren, Dana (Ken) Sanchez, Jon (Raquel) Tucker, Mark (Irene) Copley, and Kristin (Neil) Ehrlich; nine great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.