Cliff "Tuffy, 007" Copeland, Jr.

Clifton “Cliff” C. Copeland, Jr., 52, of Stanton, passed away on January 7, 2019 at home, surrounded by his loving family. Cliff, also known as “Tuffy” or “007”, was born on August 14, 1966 in Detroit, Michigan. On June 21, 2002 he married Denise (Chambers) Kuptz and together they enjoyed 16 years of marriage. Cliff was a man who could sneak his way into anyone’s heart, he had friends of all walks of life and never met someone he couldn’t befriend. A couple years ago, the Daily News wrote an article on Cliff and Denise, https://thedailynews.cc/articles/stanton-couple-shares-unique-love-story this article gives a great insight into their lives. Cliff’s granddaughter Emma Adams made a video promoting the benefits of Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance in honor of her grandpa, https://youtu.be/_l047iNORfs

Cliff is survived by his wife Denise, his mother; Irene (Gary) Shreeve, his sons; James Copeland, Clifton Copeland, Michael Copeland, his daughters; Megan “Tia” Bourbeau, Kaitlyn Knurek, sister; Christine (John) Irwin, brother; Robert (Connie) Copeland, his half-sister; Laura Potts, his step daughters; Jaclyn (Patch) Adams, Jennifer (Andrew) Samuelson, his grandchildren; Rhaelee Copeland, Khylin Copeland, Gauge Copeland, Alfred Bourbeau III, Cameron Bourbeau, Autumn Bourbeau, Summer Bourbeau, Emma Adams, Nicholas Adams, Olivia Adams, Noah Adams, Henry Samuelson, Jack Samuelson, Charles Samuelson, Grace Samuelson, his stepmother, Grace Copeland, his aunts and uncles; Agnes McDonald, David Sylvester, Roberta (Chuck) Cnudde, Dawn (Jeffery) Smith, Holly (Steve) Duke, his nieces and nephews; Casey, Sarah, Abbey, Ashley, Chase, Dakota, Daytona, Ty, Jacqueline, DJ, Jennifer, Krystal, Cody, his special friends; Maryke Harris of Australia, Nick Turco, Cary Sakstrup, Jeff Pankoff, Kristina Meija, Jim Emmons, and Dr. Owen Perlman, the “mother” of his boys; Tandy (Steve) Sexton, his previous wives; April and Leona, his special caregivers over the years; Johnny & Betty McLain, Jody Escarria, Rebecca Clery, Marian Griffith, and Brenda Stitt along with many others, he also is survived by many more cousins, extended family, and friends who will miss him greatly. Cliff was preceded in death by his father Clifton Copeland, Sr., his grandparents; Robert & Joan Sylvester, his niece; Tina Severance and his beloved Pug; Lizzy.

He loved his family with a huge heart, always there to help spoil and protect the people he loved. He had energy which was hard for others to match, often making him the leader in his circle of friends and family. His world was never boring and his disability of quadriplegia only made it more interesting and fun as he seemed to meet and exceed every challenge. We may have physically lost our hero but gained courage and strength from his many examples of love, forgiveness and the ability to live life to the fullest, a "Disability Warrior" right up to the very end!

A celebration of Cliff's life will be held Saturday January 26th, at his home, 358 Potter Place Stanton, MI 48888. Guests will be received at 10am with an Episcopal service at 11am with Rev. Sr. Diane Steir officiating. Memorial contributions in memory Cliff may be directed to the Brain Injury Association of Michigan.