Thelma Dean Lynam Copher was born May 13, 1924 at Headquarters in Nicholas County, Ky. and died August 1, 2016 at Bourbon Community Hospital. She was 92 and lived on farms in Nicholas County as a young child, and on farms in Bourbon County until the last few years when she moved to an apartment at Bourbon Heights, Inc. in Paris, KY.

Dean was preceded in death by her parents, Katherine Perkins Lynam and Claud Avery Lynam; her husband of 65 years, Marvin L. Copher; a daughter, Marvina Copher, who was still-born December 31, 1948; a sister, Mildred Florence Lynam Buzzard; a son-in-law, Leland P. Owens; and two brothers-in-law, Forrest Thomas Buzzard and Harold Joseph Kasper.

She was a graduate of Clintonville High School in Bourbon County, and received a business degree from Andrew Jackson Business College in Nashville, Tennessee. She and Marvin Copher eloped and were married October 5, 1945 in the parsonage of the Hutchison United Methodist Church in Bourbon County, KY when Marvin was on leave from the Army during World War II. While Marvin was overseas, Dean worked at Avon Ordinance Depot, using her business degree to help the war effort. After Marvin returned from the war, they started farming together in Bourbon County with Dean taking care of all the farm and household finances, and also cooking huge meals for the farm hands who helped with tobacco setting, cutting, housing, and stripping. She also was a successful Tupperware sales person for many years, winning numerous trips and prizes.

Dean was a very out-going and loving person, and was active in church as a Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School leader, church secretary, and as a volunteer in any place she could serve. She also was on various church committees and held various offices of the Women’s Missionary Society, including President, which is when she organized the publishing of a church recipe book to raise money for missions.

While her children were in school, she was a home room mother, a 4-H leader, a Bourbon County Band Booster and chaperone, and active in the Center Hill PTA. She was also active in the Bourbon County Extension Homemakers, and learned to make baskets, which became one of her hobbies.

She leaves behind five children: Phyllis Anne Copher Mattox (Stan Mattox), Paris, KY; Daniel L. Copher, Lauderdale by the Sea, FL; Ramona Katherine Copher, Berea, KY; Jan Lynam Copher (Georgina Kingston Copher), Fair Oaks, TX; and Jill Dean Copher Wedding England (John J. England), Columbia, KY.

Grandchildren surviving are Richard Travis (Jennifer) Mattox, Matthew Thomas (Paige) Mattox, Katherine Elizabeth Racz (Tony) Basham, Stephan Mark (Lauren) Racz II, Lindsey Ellen Wedding (Mark Harper), Michael Joshua Wedding, Eloise Marie Copher, and Andrew Lynam Copher.

Surviving great grandchildren are Clark Copher Mattox, Camryn Reese Mattox, Jesse Asher Mattox, Matthew Tucker Mattox, Henry Jameson Basham, and Stephen Roehm Racz.

She is also survived by her sister, Jeanette Jane Lynam Kasper. Nieces surviving are Dorothy Buzzard Schmidt, Carolyn Buzzard Thacker, Marilyn Buzzard Parker, Terry Kasper McKendry, and Tammy Kasper Espersen. Surviving nephews are Claud Thomas “Buzz” Buzzard and James David Buzzard.

The family would like to thank those at Bourbon Heights who made her last few years so happy. She and Marvin also had a special neighbor when living in Bourbon County, Lee Roberts, who was always so kind and helpful.

Visitation will be at Hinton-Turner Funeral Home in Paris, KY on Thursday, August 4, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The funeral will be at Hinton-Turner on Friday, August 5, beginning at 11:00 am with burial in the Paris Cemetery next to her beloved husband, Marvin.

Pall bearers will be grandsons Travis Mattox, Matt Mattox, Stephen Racz, Anthony Basham, Joshua Wedding, Andrew Copher, nephews Tom Buzzard and David Buzzard, and sons-in-law Stan Mattox and John England. Honorary pall bearers will be granddaughters Katherine Basham, Lindsey Wedding, Eloise Copher, Jennifer Mattox and Paige Mattox. Also Dr. Richard West and Lee Roberts.