Carl “Bo” Copenhaver, 91, passed away peacefully at Ash Grove Healthcare Center on October 28, 2020. He was able to enjoy several window visits with his children and sweetheart, Charlene Bowman. He also enjoyed a final window visit with several of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren the week prior to his death. Carl did not have Covid-19, but his life was likely shortened due to the long isolation from Covid-19. Carl was born July 10, 1929 in Ameagle, West Virginia, a small coal mining town in the mountains of West Virginia. He was the son of the late Georgia (Estep) and Ben Copenhaver.  He graduated from Clear Fork High School in Colcord, West Virginia.  Carl worked in the coal mine alongside his father and brothers for a little while, but after a couple of years, he decided working underground was not for him.  He hitchhiked to California to live with his older half-sister, Isabelle (Osborne) Lasley.  He made a lasting impression on her children, especially her young son, Donald (Phil) Lasley. While in California he started working for Litton Industries in Van Nuys, and attended Golden State Technologies, where he earned his Associates Degree in Electronics. He met his future wife, Opal (Sullivan) Reed, while working at Litton, and they married in 1964. About this same time he helped Litton Industries expand to Springfield, MO, and he and Opal settled in Bois D’Arc, MO.  One daughter was born of this union, Carla, in 1966, however, Carl became Dad to Opal’s four children, Ron Reed and Jim Reed, of the home, and Jerry Reed and Ginny Reed Cox, already adults and on their own.  Carl soon became the Scout Master for the Boy Scout Troop in Bois D’Arc.  He took Ron and his friends on many Scout camping trips and activities. Many young men were positively influenced by this and still mention it today. Carl loved his family and all of his kids and grandkids and great-grandkids fiercely. He enjoyed family outings, cookouts, and spending time with all of them. Carl was involved in the electronics industry most of his life, and he was proud that he helped design and build the first multi-layer circuit board for NASA, which was used to fire the re-entry rockets to bring a chimpanzee safely back to Earth. Carl worked for Litton Advanced Circuitry Division, Solid State Circuits, Dayco, and Positronics Industries. He made life long friends at each and every stop.  Carl was an admired manager everywhere he worked. We still hear today, “Your Dad was the best manager I ever had.”  He was also a dedicated employee, one time walking a mile in two feet of snow, just to catch a ride to work with someone that had 4-wheel drive. Along with work, Carl made sure he had a good balance of fun with his family. He never forgot his roots, and he made an annual trip to Ameagle, WV over Memorial Day weekend. He was in his glory sitting with his siblings and cousins telling many funny stories of their youth and adventures, laughing until their stomachs hurt. He loved to garden, and Opal canned enough every year to feed an Army. He also enjoyed deer hunting with son, Jim, trout fishing with best friend, Bob Knight, and then he found his true love of camping and fishing at Stockton and Table Rock Lakes with several friends and family over the years. He was known for his outdoor cooking and singing of silly songs, funny quotes and sayings, bass fishing and crappie fishing, and telling all kinds of stories of his youth.  One thing he liked to tell you was, “Don’t be dumber than a box of rocks!” For many years, he enjoyed hosting an annual fish fry for all his family, extended family, and many friends and co-workers. He had a top secret fish breading recipe, and even people that didn’t like fish ate Carl’s fried fish. After retirement, he and Opal enjoyed several years of traveling and being Snowbirds from January-April. They normally left the Springfield area with their fifth-wheel, along with a caravan of a couple of friends. In 1998 he made his first trip to Alaska, a long time dream of his. He fished for halibut in Homer, and King Salmon in the Kenai Peninsula. He, along with Carla and James, got to meet a big ole Grizzly bear mama with three cubs face to face. That became a new story he loved to tell and reenact for many years. After that first trip to Alaska, he was hooked, and he made several additional fishing trips to Alaska with his brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Carolyn, sister, Nina, nephew, John Copenhaver, and his sweetheart, Charlene Bowman.

Carl is survived by his sweetheart, Charlene “Grandma Shoddie” Bowman of Everton, MO, children, Jerry Reed and wife, Bonnie of Merlin, OR, daughter, Ginny Cox of Springfield, MO, son Jim Reed and wife, Bonita of Nixa, MO, son Ron Reed of Ash Grove, MO, daughter, Carla O’Marr and husband, James of Bois D’Arc, MO, brother James Copenhaver and sister-in-law, Carolyn of Marietta, Georgia, sister-in-law Pat Sullivan of Flat Creek, TN, brother-in-law Albert Hurt of Tremont, IL, sister-in-law Carolyn Hurt of Springfield, MO and brother-in-law and fishing buddy Doyle Hurt and wife, Mary of Nixa, MO.  Carl is also survived by 11 Grandchildren, Randy Reed, Robin Reed Porter, Brenda Servin, Lynn Bourisaw, Karen Hembree, Joshua Reed, Jaclynn Reed, Morgan Miller, Conner Reed, Benjamin O’Marr and Bethany O’Marr, as well as 10 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Carl was predeceased by his wife of 41 years, Opal (Sullivan) Copenhaver, parents Ben and Georgia Copenhaver, brothers Alva (Sonny) Osborne, Willard Osborne, Millard Osborne,  Joe Osborne, Ray Copenhaver, and sisters, Orpha (Osborne) Dickerson, Delma (Osborne) Btkos, Isabelle (Osborne) Woolsey, and Nina (Copenhaver) Thomas.

Visitation will be at Greenlawn Funeral Home North on Saturday, November 7, 1:00 – 2:00 PM. Graveside service will be November 7, 3:00 PM, at Clear Creek Cemetery, Springfield, MO.

The family is requiring masks and social distancing at the Visitation and are requesting masks be worn at the graveside service.

The family would like to thank Ash Grove Healthcare Facility for their tremendous care, and for loving on Carl the way they did.