Gerald was born in Phoenix, Arizona on March 15,1951 to June Lathum and Thurman Coppenbarger. He attended Davis High School and lived in Davis for the majority of his life. While attending Davis High School, he met the love of his life, Cathy (Cannon) Coppenbarger, and they were married for 57 years. Gerald had four children, Britt Coppenbarger, Mindi Woerner, Geri Todd, and Ann Hobbs. He worked various jobs: he worked in the oil field, he worked at Sooner Rock as an equipment operator and maintained machinery and the scalehouse, and he worked at Halliburton as a tig welder, sandblaster, and tank painter.

Gerald was a beautifully complex man. He wasn’t always easy to read or understand, often keeping his thoughts entirely to himself— until he suddenly decided you needed to hear them. He wouldn’t mind sharing his exact opinion at any given moment, catching us off guard and keeping us all on our toes. His quirky opinions always had the most attention-getting details, delivered with a logic that was entirely his own. This was especially true when it came to OU football, or his deep exasperation with the utter lack of competence displayed by contestants on “The Price is Right, Jeopardy, and Let’s Make a Deal. He held court on all of these subjects with absolute certainty and zero filters. He was a puzzle we loved solving every single day.

Nothing got past him. In fact, it was widely believed by his family that Gerald’s ears were actually among the first satellite towers ever created, as he could literally hear a pin drop from across the house.

To say he was stubborn would be an understatement. He didn’t just hold his ground; he was the ground we all stood upon when things got tough. His stubbornness wasn’t a flaw; it was the steel framework of his absolute loyalty to his family. Once Gerald made up his mind, not even a hurricane could move him—and we loved him all the more for it.

Yet, for all his stubborn strength, sharp opinions, and radar hearing, he brought immense joy to our lives through his humor. He believed that the best way to handle life’s heavy moments was with a light heart and a quick wit. We will miss his guidance, but we will miss his terrible, wonderful jokes and infectious laugh the most.

Gerald is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Cathy Cannon Coppenbarger; his children, Britt Coppenbarger, Mindi Woerner, Geri Todd, and Ann Hobbs; his grandchildren, Dylan Coppenbarger, Brock Coppenbarger, Hannah Coppenbarger, Jessie Coppenbarger, Kelton Koch, Reece Seary, Ryley Searcy, Canon Sheaffer, and Drew Lance; his great-grandchildren; Blakelynn, Emery, Analee, Ryder, Jagger, Judie, and Cashlynn; his siblings, Bobbie Brumley, Butch Coppenbarger, Gay McHenry, and Micheal Morrison, and a legacy of laughter that will never fade.

He was preceded in death by his father, Thurman Coppenbarger and mother, June Lathum; his niece, Rhonda Sander; and nephew, Craig Meyers.

A celebration of Gerald’s wonderfully stubborn and memorable life was held on Tuesday, July 14 at 10:00 a.m. at Greenhill Cemetery in Davis. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you scream “Boomer Sooner,” yell the correct wheel spin or showcase bid at the television, or share a terrible joke with someone you love today, just as Gerald would have done.

Services are “entrusted to” HALE’S FUNERAL HOME, DAVIS. On-line condolences may be offered at halesfuneralhomes.com.