Stanley DeWayne Copeland, of Dixon, was born on August 22, 1983, at Waynesville, a son of Ronald Dale Copeland and Marsha Lynn (Anderson) Kreiter, and departed this life at 12:20 p.m., on Sunday afternoon, October 30, 2016, in the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics, Columbia, after suffering an apparent stroke. Stanley had attained the age of 33 years, 2 months, and 8 days.

Stanley had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Personal Savior and had followed his Lord in baptism while attending the Sheppard Baptist Church near Dixon. He had later joined and become a member of the Catholic faith and was currently a member of the Holy Guardian Angels Catholic Church, Brinktown. Stanley's lifework had been caring for the elderly, and he had been employed by the Dixon Nursing and Rehab for a number of years. Activities he especially enjoyed included listening to music and making people laugh.

Those left to mourn the passing of Stanley include: His life partner, Patrick Kennedy, of the home in Dixon; his father, Ronnie Copeland, and friend, Veronica Kelley, of Dixon; his mother, Marsha Kreiter, of Dixon; his siblings, Greg Anderson of Jefferson City, Ronald Anderson of St. Louis, Bryan Copeland, Travis Copeland, and Kristy Foster, all of Dixon, Rhonda Copeland of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Amy Copeland of Dixon; paternal grandmother, Lena Elfline of Dixon; nephews; nieces; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Stanley was preceded in death by three infant brothers, Kevin Kreiter, Nathan Copeland, and Ryan Copeland; paternal grandfather, Stanley Copeland; maternal grandfather, Everett Anderson; and maternal grandmother, Alene Anderson.

Interment will be in the Waters Cemetery near Brinktown under the direction of the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home. Pallbearers for Stanley will be Willie Caraballo, Travis Copeland, Bryan Copeland, Ronnie Anderson, Tim Brandt, and Benji Copeland, and honorary pallbearers will be Jace Gredvig, Brayden Copeland, Nathan Gibbons, Denver Caraballo, and Owen Skinner.