Obituary

The Masterpiece of Me By Morgan Cope


As an artist, you don’t think about the parabola or the arc you’re describing or where you’re going to ultimately end up, you’re just kind of crawling around, seeing what’s out there” I think of myself as an artist, not a painter or a photographer but how I think and feel. This quote reminds me of myself, to me I am an artist at heart…to you, well that’s your opinion, and this mine.

Standing on stage is the greatest feeling in the world. I have grown up on many stages but one in particular. Whenever I am about to cry or when I just need to calm down I picture myself on stage and everything seems to melt away into nothing. All eyes on me, people watching my every move, my mouth shape, listening to my voice fill the air. That is my heaven on earth. Singing and music are my life. Acting is a big part too but it’s not as important. Music is everything that has a purpose but you could never put it into words. Acting is fun because it can be everything you aren’t. There are no limits on what you can be.

My stars are my lights when everything else is dark. These six stars are my six closest friends who mean the world to me. Polka dots, I don’t know what I would do without you. You are the most trustworthy, loyal friend on this planet and I could never ask for anymore. The girly girl is like a princess. She is a natural beauty and we can read each other’s minds. I think of her as my sister and my other half. Striped star, you are one of a kind; I promise I will never, ever meet someone like you again in my life. You are crazy and random but adorable. Smiley, our adventures were insane and even though they are gone, our imaginations were unbelievable we always thought anything was possible. Rainbow, you can always make me laugh and we aren’t that close but you always seem to be there for me. Fire friend, you’re always up to something, if it’s crazy or mischievous, we always have fun. For my heart, that healed, he is my band aid. The sunset, you’re the one I want to ride off in it with. The ocean, you’re my safe harbor. It was so hard to choose symbols for you because you mean a lot to me.

Cope means to deal with. That’s exactly what my family does. No matter what we help each other and deal with our problems together. They will love me, no matter what and I believe them. My parents are the two halves of me. I see bits and pieces of them in me. My dad, he is the hardest worker I have ever seen, he is very determined, I can go to him for mostly everything. My mom is an artist, far more talented than me, I look up to her for that and I know she only wants what is best for me. My brother is a piece of art, that has a shield so no one sees his true beauty. I would never judge him, he is different in his own way, but that’s what makes him special.

“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 This scripture, in my perspective means that God is with my no matter what happens, he will always be there no matter what. My religion is everything, If someone loved me so much that they would die for me, then I need to give them everything that I have in return. God made me who I am. I wouldn’t be anywhere without him. He is what I live for and who I live for. He is my top priority. I may get distracted and wander away from him but I will always go back to my purpose, God.

I have my muse, my lights, my band aid, my shield and my purpose. These are all on the canvas of my heart, that represent myself, a masterpiece.

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Morgan Karlee Cope

Arrived on earth - Morgan came into this world unexpectedly on January 25, 1995. Morgan’s mother was supposed to sing at Morgan’s great grandfather’s funeral when she started to have abdominal pain from the effects of toxemia and preeclampsia. Morgan was born at Tacoma General in the Children’s Hospital and moved into the neonatal unit because she only weighed two pounds and nine ounces. She was so small and frail in the incubator that you could almost hold her literally in the palm of your hand. There were times we thought we would lose Morgan but she didn’t give up. Even though Morgan was small she had a strong spirit to her and that spirit she carried her entire life which got her the nickname of sisu which is Finnish for being brave and having determination.

Growing up - Morgan was the second grandchild for Morgan’s mother’s side and the ninth (and final) for her father’s side. She grew up like most little girls. She loved playing with her baby dolls and she had her own little play kitchen set that she could pretend to make them dinner. Morgan loved animals especially her dog Red and her Papa’s dog Orphy. She loved spending time down at the ocean camping so she could take the dogs for a walk or play in the water.

Music and Drama - Morgan got her love of music from her mother and her grandfather. At an early age Morgan began to sing and sing with confidence. She would sing at church, at school and joined the Tacoma Youth Chorus when she was in second grade. She would continue with TYC until she graduated from high school. Morgan grew so much musically at TYC and also got to travel to Europe to sing with them. Morgan also had a love for drama which started when she and her brother would try out for the traveling Missoula Children’s Theater group when come to their school. When Morgan began college at Washington State she received a small music scholarship and joined their choir. While at WSU Morgan was part of the cast of the Adams Family musical. Morgan loved being part of the music program at WSU.

Volunteering – Morgan loved helping others. She had a spirit of looking out for people. She went missions to Mexico with Youth with a Mission to help kids in Tijuana. She also volunteered for many years at the Freight Factor in Buckley. She loved Dennis and Diane the owners of the Fright Factory and loved getting dressed up into different types of scary characters. She would be so excited to share what type of character she was that night and how many people she had scared.

School/Sports – Morgan loved going to school. She enjoyed most of her teachers and always wanted to be around her friends. Morgan attended Wickersham Elementary and later transferred to Foothills Elementary. She attended White River Middle and then to Glacier Middle School. While in middle school Morgan played volleyball, softball and ran track. Morgan wasn’t very competitive but just loved to be with her friends. Morgan attended White River High School. Morgan was very active in choir, drama, FFA and AVID. Morgan also ran cross country for one season. Morgan graduated in June of 2014 from WRHS. Morgan went onto Washington State University where she took music classes and her general university requirements. Morgan was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority and the WSU Choir. Throughout Morgan’s time in school we always heard from her teachers how they loved having Morgan in their classes. In some situations a teacher would put Morgan with new or other students that were struggling to get adjusted in the class. Morgan wasn’t the smartest kid in her class but she worked hard and her teachers recognized that in her.

Work – Morgan worked growing up babysitting for many friends and family. She loved taking care of kids even if they were a handful. When Morgan got her driver’s license she got a job at McDonalds in Bonney Lake. She worked there throughout high school and when she was home on breaks. She also worked at the McDonalds in Pullman while she attended school. Morgan was a hard working and everyone enjoyed working with Morgan. She would come home with funny stories of what happened at McDonalds that day.

Friends- Since Morgan was very little everyone wanted to be Morgan’s friend. Some of those little friends remained her friends the rest of her life. I don’t want to name all of her friends because I know I will forget someone and I don’t want to do that. You all know who you are. Morgan loved you all very much. I always enjoyed having Morgan’s friends over the slumber or birthday parties. It would always start with “I want to have a few friends come over” to a house full. Morgan was the type of person that was a friend to those that didn’t have many. She looked for the good in people and reached out to those that were overlooked. This was one her greatest gifts.

Family – Morgan is the daughter of Kirsten (Lundquist) Cope and Charles Cope, step-daughter to Shawn Cope; sister to Mason Cope; granddaughter to Jerry and Karen Lundquist, Monalee Cope and Robert Cope; niece to Erik Lundquist, Candy (Cope) Baskett, Carol (Cope) Skinner, Carla (Cope) Ferguson; cousin to Nathan Baskett, Sam Ferguson, Adriane (Skinner) Wargo, Jackie (Ferguson) Cameron, Boone Skinner, Cody Baskett, TJ Skinner and Soren Lundquist.

Church/Faith – Morgan began her walk of faith early attending the Lutheran Church with parents and grandparents. She began attending Calvary Community Church and was active in the youth ministries plays and programs. Morgan’s faith grew as she learned what it meant to follow Jesus and she loved the Lord. Morgan had a servant’s heart and went on missionary trips to Mexico with Youth with Mission. She loved playing with kids in Mexico. Morgan attended Resonate Church with her family where she volunteered in the nursery because she loved being around the kids. We were all amazed how strong Morgan’s faith in God was. She lived as He commanded “Love Him with all your heart, mind and soul and to love others as yourself”.

Left to heaven – Morgan left this world as she arrived unexpectedly. She was killed in a head on car crash on her way home for Thanksgiving break on November 22nd, 2015. She left far too soon for us that loved her which was many. We all grief because we miss her dearly. We miss that she brightened our lives with her voice, her laughter, her smile and her beautiful spirit of love. We know that she is home with Jesus and her grandfathers. Her life may have been short but she lived it well. Until we see you again Morgan we love and miss you every day.