Janice Deonne Cope

Jan Cope passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington on May 22, 2025 at the age of 83. Jan will always be remembered by her family as a loving mother and a fun and caring grandma. She will be dearly missed.

Jan was born on November 29, 1941 in Indio, California to parents George Leroy Eakes and Eleaner Marie Eakes. She and her family moved to Twin Falls, Idaho in 1946 and then to Tacoma, Washington 12 years later. There she met her future husband Stephen Cope and the two were married at Asbury United Methodist Church in September, 1963. While Stephen was still in the Air Force, he and Jan welcomed their two sons Steve Jr and Mark. After retiring from the Air Force while stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, the family settled in Puyallup, Washington in 1977. For years Jan worked as the Secretary at Asbury UMC and later was an employee at the Department of Licensing for the State of Washington from where she retired in 2006. Jan was an active church member at Asbury and then Lakewood United Methodist Church, giving many hours as a volunteer and working on various committees.

Preceded in death by her husband Stephen, and both parents, Jan’s life will be celebrated by her brother Gary Eakes and wife Minjung, her children: Steve Cope and wife Sherri; Mark Cope and wife Deirdre; her grandchildren: Brenna Cope; Ashlynn Cope; Jordan Chambers; Brandon Cope and Derrick Cope; her great-grandchildren Emma Chambers and Kason Cook.

Jan will be laid to rest next to her husband Steve at Tahoma National Cemetery. Memorial service will be held at Powers Funeral Home in Puyallup on June 9, 2025.