Gerald Wayne Coppenbarger

Gerald Wayne Coppenbarger, age 75, of Davis, Oklahoma, passed away on July 6, 2026, surrounded by the family he fiercely protected.

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: in the oil field, at Sooner Rock as an equipment operator, maintaining machinery and the scalehouse, and at Halliburton as a TIG welder, sandblaster, and tank painter. He was a proud Chickasaw native and found comfort in his heritage.

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-grabbing details, delivered with logic entirely his own. This was especially true when it came to OU and Davis 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, his family widely believed that Gerald's ears were 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; his mother, June Lathum; his niece, Rhonda Sander; and his nephew, Craig Meyers.

A celebration of Gerald's wonderfully stubborn and memorable life will be held on Tuesday, July 14, at 10 a.m. at Greenhill Cemetery in Davis, Oklahoma. 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.

Online condolences may be offered at halesfuneralhomes.com.