Sandy Copley 1942-2026
Sandra Jean Maxwell Copley (Sandy), 83, of Shawnee, passed away on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at Colonial Village in Overland Park, surrounded by her children.
She was born July 25, 1942, in Horton, the daughter of Howard and Bernadine (Argo) Maxwell.
Sandy grew up in a farmhouse in Whiting. When she was born, her father Howard was away fighting in WWII. She did not meet him until she was 2½ years old. During those 2½ years, she was cared for solely by her mother, Bernadine. Throughout her life, Sandy and Bernadine had a bond deeper than most mothers and daughters. Until the end of her life, stories of Bernadine and her antics brought a smile to Sandy’s face.
Sandy attended Whiting High School from 1956 to 1960. She was class valedictorian and also participated in basketball and cheerleading.
Upon graduating in 1960, Sandy moved to Washington, D.C., and worked at the Pentagon as an administrative assistant for a general. Throughout her life, she enjoyed telling family and friends about her experiences at the Pentagon and especially the tense meetings she was in during the fall of 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Whenever one of Sandy’s children would ask her if she could keep a secret, she would say, “you know, I had top secret clearance at the Pentagon. I think I can handle it.” She quit working at the Pentagon upon the birth of her first child in 1964.
In 1977, Sandy moved to Plantation, Fla., and worked at American Express as an administrative assistant. In 1982, she moved back to Kansas and from 1982 to 1984, she worked as an administrative assistant for a vice president at Macy’s.
In 1984, Sandy started working for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Mo. She first worked as an administrative assistant at Hallmark, but after two years, transferred to Hallmark’s sales team. Sandy’s career at Hallmark was the most meaningful work of her life (outside the household). She enjoyed the people and culture at Hallmark immensely and was extremely grateful for the opportunities given to her at Hallmark. In 1991, she was awarded Hallmark’s R.B. Hall Sales Award, given to the top sales representatives at the company. She retired from Hallmark in fall 2011 as a sales supervisor.
Sandy married George DeWitt Copley of Auburn, N.Y., in 1963; they divorced in 1980. They had three children, Michelle Anne Lane of Olathe, Terri Marie Copley of Greenville, N.C., and Patrick George Copley of Overland Park. George preceded Sandy in death in 1987.
Although Sandy and George’s marriage ended in divorce after 17 years, Sandy was eternally grateful for the four “Copley Sisters” she gained through her marriage with George, women who became her lifelong best friends: Annie Suska, who preceded Sandy in death in 2025, Katie Bellnier of Merritt Island, Fla., Bobbie Bellnier of Auburn, N.Y., and Janie Meyers, who preceded Sandy in death in 2005. Some of the best times of Sandy’s life involved these women and their families.
Survivors include her three children; her life partner of 40½ years, Howard Curtis; her brother Gary Maxwell and wife Linda of Mayetta; her brother Greg Maxwell and wife Linda of Whiting; and her sister-in-law Mary Maxwell of Manhattan, wife of her brother Larry Maxwell, who preceded Sandy in death in 2021.
Sandy had seven grandchildren: Justin Lane (Lauren), Jessica Georgie (Evan), Maxwell Geritz (Emily), Raegan Copley, Zander Geritz, Ella Copley and Ryan Copley. She had five great-grandchildren: Geoffrey Georgie, Charlotte Lane, Gryffin Georgie, Liam Lane and Gwynnen Georgie.
Sandy was truly a source of love, warmth and positivity to everyone that knew her. Her memory will live on in our hearts forever.
A rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 12 with visitation to follow until 6:30 p.m. at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 13 at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Holton. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery with a reception after the burial at St. Dominic Catholic Church.
Memorials may be given to St. Dominic Catholic Church or Catholic Charities, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
