Patricia Copa

Patricia Copa November 4, 1944 ~ July 17, 2008 SALEM - Patricia Copa passed away in a single car accident July 17. She was born on November 4, 1944 in San Mateo, California, the first of six children of Thomas and Anita Murphy. She married George Copa on June 11, 1966 in Excelsior, Minnesota. They raised two children, daughter Kristin and son Vincent. Pat was a devoted mother and grandmother who took pride in watching her children grow and become parents themselves. Pat grew up in Chanhassen, Minnesota and attended St. John the Baptist Catholic School and Minnetonka High School. She was in 4-H for 12 years and her projects included raising chickens and vegetables. Besides her own prize-winning sewing projects, she helped younger siblings with theirs. She received her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Home Economics Education and Doctor of Philosophy in Education from the University of Minnesota. She was very proud that she was able to be at home with her children and contribute to their early development while pursuing her advanced educational degrees. Pat believed in helping people reach their full potential and held a variety of professional educational positions including being on the faculty of the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Western Oregon University. She was on the staff of the Minnesota Department of Education, Oregon Department of Education, was Dean at St. Paul Technical College, and principal for one of the first charter career and technical high schools in the nation. Along the way, she served on the staff of the American Vocational Association in Washington, DC where she worked with congressional staff to develop federal legislation for career and technical education across the nation. She spent the last ten years of her life breeding and raising award-winning Pygora goats. Pat found true personal and professional happiness in the development of her herd at her Verdant Vista Farm. She was able to spend time with animals, who responded to her care not only in quality form and fiber, but in even temperament. She was also able to promote the breed at fairs and festivals, spending countless hours answering questions of the curious and serving as a valuable resource to new owners. Pat enjoyed the community of Pygora goat breeders in the Pacific Northwest and took great pride in working with her fiber from raw form to finished yarn. Pat relished spending time with her family and all will cherish the memory of her recent trip from Oregon to Minnesota to deliver her goat kids to new homes and visit with old friends and neighbors on the 4th of July. She spent a week of fun with George, Kristin, Vincent, and their families at the family cabin and 4th of July festival. It is one of many warm memories providing comfort in a very difficult time. Pat is preceded in death by her father, Thomas Edward Murphy. She is survived by husband, George; daughter Kristin and her husband, Philip, with grandchildren Emma and Owen living in Portland, OR; son Vincent and wife, Alicia, with grandchildren Grace and Nathan living in Minnetonka, MN; mother Anita Murphy who was being cared for by Pat in her home; four sisters Mary Lou, Linda, Joanne and Claudia and brother Tom. She will be missed profoundly by family and her many friends. Please share your messages and memories with her family and friends: www.verdantvistas.com Remembrances may be made to: mercycorps.org provides humanitarian aid internationally, heifer.org provides livestock to needy families internationally wildcathaven.org wildcat rescue in Oregon nature.org nature conservancy Gather informally to remember her at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 23 Memorial Service at 11:00 am Mission Mill Museum outside park area 1313 Mill Street SE Salem, OR 97301 503 585-7012 www.missionmill.org Arrangements Entrusted to Farnstrom Mortuary, Independence