Brian Lee Copper, 33, of Austin, TX passed away in his home on Monday March 10th, 2025, of natural causes. His sudden and unexpected death was a terrible shock and loss to his family, friends, and all who loved him.
Brian was born on September 13, 1991, at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, KS to parents Dorothy Copper and Jesus Jauregui Silva. Raised as an only child by his mother – they shared a love of zoos, road trips, pets, movie marathons, planting flowers, great tamales and learning.
Brian graduated from Turpin High School in Turpin, OK, class of 2010. As a testament to Brian’s ambition, while in high school he was enrolled in accelerated math classes at OPSU and attended the Oklahoma Youth Leadership Conference in Tulsa, OK and the National Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, DC.
As a perennial student and through his constant pursuit of excellence, Brian attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) and University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) before joining the Cowboy family at Oklahoma State University (OSU), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2014. GO POKES! While at SWOSU and UCO Brian was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) Fraternity. His bubbly and outgoing personality matched perfectly with his passion for recruiting and philanthropy, earning him the role of Philanthropic Chair- where Brian’s heart got put to action through fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Brian lived the TKE motto daily – “Better Men for a Better World”. In May of 2019, Brian achieved his lifelong goal of earning a Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University – School of Law. It was a proud day for us all to add to every other proud day we were fortunate to experience with him.
Professionally, Brian worked for the Weitz Company as a Regulatory Compliance Officer and Robert Half – JBS USA as an Insurance Underwriter. At the time of his passing, he was employed by Consilio as a Senior Corporate and Securities Counselor while continuing his education as a Master of Business Administration Candidate at OSU.
Memberships included OSU Alumni Assoc., OK Assoc. of Realtors, OK Assoc. for Justice, Iowa Bar Association, and the Oklahoma City University School of Law Alumni Association.
While Brian’s many academic and professional achievements are remarkable for a man of his age, the most impressive aspect of Brian’s life was his heart. Brian was kind and compassionate to everyone he met because he fervently believed in making the lives of those around him better, even if all he had to offer was a smile. The “spice of life” to Brian meant putting yourself out there, making friends and meeting people, and we are all better for it. Brian firmly believed life was too short to spend it without joy, even if the joy you find was in the little things, like walking his dogs around the lake on a beautiful 80° day in Austin, or a margarita on a patio when the sun comes out after a long winter. May every time we see a rainbow after a rainy day or feel the warmth of the sun after the cold lifts, serve as reminder of the “spice of life” in Brian’s honor.
Brian was preceded in death by stepmother Susie DeArco, aunts and uncles Ardis Copper, Susana Jauregui Silva, Raymond Copper, Gary Copper, and Ricardo Jauregui Silva. Paternal grandparents Daria Silva Bustos and Jose Jesus Jauregui Bustos, maternal grandparents Robert Copper and Pauline (Tallmadge) Copper.
Survivors and those left to cherish his memories include his best friend and sister Andrea (Rob) Silk of Ogden, Utah; his value adding 2nd Mom, Dawn Smith (Randy) Danford of Marion Iowa; his mother Dorothy Copper of Turpin, OK; his father Jesus Jauregui of Liberal, KS; half-brothers and sisters Stephen (Lori) Villarreal of Centralia MO, Jesus Jauregui of Monterrey, Mexico, Roxana Jauregui Regalado of Gomez Palacio Durango, Mexico, Jesus Rodriguez of Tyrone, OK, and Colton Jauregui of Liberal, KS. His aunts and uncles Jean Atkinson, William (Lorrie) Copper, Laurie Copper, and Donald Copper all of Marion, IA; Connie Copper Render, Judy (Kevin) Reilly all of Cedar Rapids, IA; Audrey (Mike) Elledge of Tulsa, OK, Joan Copper of Anamosa, IA. Jose Luis Jauregui Silva of Kismet KS, David Jauregui Silva, Rosalva Jauregui Silva, Maria Del Rosario Jauregui Silva, Elvia Jauregui Silva, Gerardo Jauregui Silva, and Pablo Guadalupe Jauregui Silva all of Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. As well as many extended family and friends.
Services will be hosted at Hornung Funeral Home in Liberal, KS on May 2nd at 11:00 AM. Interment to follow at a later date. A meal will be served after the service where all are welcome to meet with the family for fellowship, remembrance and celebration of Brian’s life. Tissues will be provided for tears of grief, happiness and pride.
The outpouring of love and requests for additional chances to celebrate Brian from friends and family has been such a blessing. As such, we have added 2 Celebration of Life events in honor of Brian. Yes, he was really that amazing.
Oklahoma City, OK
April 25th, 2025, at 2:00 pm
Bungalow 23
731 23rd St. Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Marion, Iowa
June 7th, 2025, at 4:00 pm service, 5:30 pm meal
2145 Marak Lane
Marion, Iowa
