Mary Louise Taylor Copeland, 87, of Bridgeport and formerly Lafferty, Ohio died at 11:55 AM Thursday, February 29, 2024, at Barnesville Hospital.

Mary Lou was born August 10, 1937, in Canton, Ohio, and was the daughter of the late Curtis Chandler Taylor and Agnes (Barth) Taylor.

In addition to her parents, Mary Lou is proceeded in death by her two brothers, Arden Barth Taylor, of Winter Haven, Florida, and Frank L. "Wezz" Taylor of New Lexington, Ohio.

She is survived by two sons, Joseph (Jo-Ann Jones) Copeland of Flushing, Ohio and Leslie R. Copeland of Flushing, Ohio; two daughters, Carrie L. Copeland (Ralph) Barker of Unionport, Ohio and Amy L. Copeland (Tom) Ludewig of Colliers, West Virginia.

Mary Lou was the grandmother to four grandchildren: Heather Copeland, Brian (Jessica) Barker and Brad Barker, Nicolette Ludewig (Chris) Hill, Kyle (Katie) Copeland. She was the great-grandmother to seven great grandchildren: Josie Barker, Lane Barker, Levi Barker (Brian Barker), Lowry Hill (Nicolette Hill), Madison Barker (Brad Barker), Mila and Kalo Copeland (Kyle Copeland).

Mary Lou was active in her community and a Catholic by faith. She worked at Bill's Market in Bloomingdale, Ohio and Hills Department Store in St. Clairsville, Ohio. She possessed a strong spirit, was bright, sincere, and always willing to help. Mary Lou will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.

No calling hours will be observed, and a private family celebration of her life will be held in her honor, as was Mary Lou's wishes.  She has directed that we shed no tears, that we can miss her, but to be happy that she is mobile and without pain and with her family above now. Arrangements are entrusted to Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville.

Until we meet again, we shall remember Mary Lou with Love!

~Poem~

You can only have one mother

Patient kind and true;

No other friend in all the world,

Will be the same to you.

When other friends forsake you,

To mother you will return,

For all her loving kindness,

She asks nothing in return.

As we look upon her picture,

Sweet memories we recall,

Of a face so full of sunshine,

And a smile for one and all.

Sweet Jesus, take this message,

To our dear mother above;

Tell her how we miss her,

And give her all our love.