A celebration of the life of Kathy Jean Copes Ryland of Ruston, 80, will be at 10:00 AM, on Monday, June 18, 2012 at First Baptist Church in Ruston, Louisiana with Dr. Andrew Johnson and Dr. Chris Craig officiating. Graveside services will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruston, Louisiana under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston. Kathy passed away peacefully on Friday, June 15, 2012. Kathy married Earvin Ryland on August 31, 1956. She was an elementary school teacher where she spent the last 27 of 32 years in the Lincoln Parish School System and Kathy retired in 1990. She was an active member of First Baptist Church and was a loving wife, mother, grandma and friend to many in the community. Kathy enjoyed camping traveling, cooking, reading, gardening and cheering on the Duke Blue Devils Basketball Team. She was preceded in death by her parents Benjamin Franklin Copes and Blanche Lee Formby Copes, her sister Ellice Copes Huff and a niece Melody Hall. Kathy leaves to cherish her memories, her loving husband, Earvin Ryland, two daughters, Joy Annison and husband Ben of Ruston, Lorna Auten and husband Opie of Ft. Worth, Texas, four grandchildren Collin, Carder and Kaitlyn Auten of Ft. Worth, Texas, Jena-Claire Auten-Ochs and husband Dan of Lubbock, Texas, and nephews Phillip and Ben Huff. Visitation is 6:00-8:00 PM, Sunday, June 17, 2012 at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, Louisiana. Pallbearers will be Collin and Carder Auten, Rick Ryland, Dan Ochs, Opie Auten and Ben Annison. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Building Fund at First Baptist Church of Ruston. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com