Sammy Lane Cope

Sammy Lane Cope passed away at the age of 92 at the home of her daughter in Liberal, Kansas, on November 7, 2020 after a 21-month battle of severe post stroke recovery.

Sammy was born September 1, 1928 in Branson, Missouri on a fishing trip. She was named after the heroine in the Harold Bell Wright book, “Shepherd of the Hills.” She grew up on a farm in the Oklahoma Panhandle attending the Turpin School system until she moved to Liberal as a Senior graduating from Liberal High School in 1946. She went on to attend and graduate from Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas, receiving a teaching degree in Home Economics Education in 1950.

After teaching in Colorado and living in various states and Canada, Sammy returned to Liberal marrying Wayne M Cope in 1962.

Sammy received her realtor’s license in the 1980s continuing to enhance her skill set which allowed her to open her own brokerage company “Sammy Cope Action Realty,” running it until she retired and sold the business at the age of 80 in 2007. Sammy was fun to be around, had the ability to work with everyone, and was confident in her ability to help others.
Sammy was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), past Chapter Regent of the local Cimarron River Valley DAR Chapter and past Honorary Kansas State Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution, member of the Mayflower Society, member and past President of PEO Chapter FA, member of the Order of the Eastern Star, member and past President of Aurora Club, member and past President of General Federation of Women’s Clubs, American Legion Auxiliary and the 1st United Methodist Church. Sammy was proud to have served on the Board of the Liberal Memorial Library during the library remodel and to have saved the large book façade which is very unique to the building and community. Sammy served as Mother Advisor for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in Liberal for many years.

She is survived by her daughter Stacy Lane Cope, sister and brother in law, Jo Ann and Gene H Sharp, brother and sister in law, Gene W and Joann King, sister, Jan L King, sister in law and husband, Ellen and Dick Verrell, 4 nieces, 10 nephews, numerous cousins, long time friend and companion Rolland J (Pat) Patrick and caregiver Tina Boschman.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne M Cope, her parents, Hazel M and Rufus G King, an infant brother, Rufus Alroy King and a sister and brother in law, Carol Lea and Thomas E Roberts.

Funeral services will be Friday, November 13, 2020 at 2pm at the 1st United Methodist Church, 3rd & Grant, Liberal, KS. Due to the increasing COVID cases in Liberal, masks and social distancing will be required. Family and Close friends are invited to attend services. The service will be Live Streamed on Facebook Live on Miller Mortuary’s Facebook page.

Burial will follow at the Liberal Cemetery. The family requests memorials to WA and Lou B King Scholarship at Southwestern College in Winfield, KS or to the Sharp Champion Center Phase II at Seward County Community College sent in care of Miller Mortuary PO Box 826 Liberal, KS 67905.

Friends may send condolences to the family through Sammy’s tribute web page at www.millermortuary.net