John Carson Copes, IV's Obituary
John Carson Copes, IV died peacefully surrounded by family and friends on October 19, 2006 at 8:46 AM of colon cancer, in Sandestin, Florida at the vacation home of his close relative, Kathryn Haley. He was a native of New Orleans, raised in Baton Rouge, where he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. While in Baton Rouge, he attended St. James Episcopal, Episcopal High and Tara High School where he graduated.
John graduated from Louisiana Tech, with a double major in Journalism and English. At Tech, he was a top editor and columnist for the campus newspaper, played keyboard in a band, served as long-time social chairman to the Kappa Alpha Order and was a member of the Tech Parachute Team.
After graduating from Louisiana Tech, he moved to Shreveport where he married fellow reporter Diane Hollenshead. John served as political reporter and columnist for the Shreveport Journal and as Washington, DC correspondent and columnist for the same paper following his move to Washington, DC. In DC, he was a member of the Mystic Krewe of Louisianans.
Due to family illnesses, he returned to Louisiana in 1994, where he has resided in Mandeville. Five years after returning to Louisiana, he and his wife were blessed with the birth of their son, John Carson Copes, V, better known as “Jack”. Shortly thereafter, he created the first well known Louisiana political Web site, The Deduct Box. Selection of the name “The Deduct Box” came from the legendary Huey P. Long’s mysterious slush fund, which was never located. The Web site featured a daily digest of stories from newspapers, television and other media as well as barbs from Copes on people and issues in the news.
As an avid golfer, John was a member of Tchefuncta Country Club. He was a spectator at the Masters and other PGA-sanctioned tournaments. He was a member of the Krewe of Olympia and a life-long yellow dog Democrat. He was a life member of both the National Rifle Association and the Antique Automobile Club of America. He was a perpetual member of the Military Order of World Wars due to his father, a Lieutenant Officer of the 14th Armored Division, Corps of Engineers, in France and Germany during World War II, who was decorated with a Bronze Star with a V device, Purple Heart and 3 Battle Stars.
John was an active supporter of Kehoe-France Northshore School, The BLAST and Blue Dolphin Swim Teams and Louisiana Tech Athletics.
In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by his parents, John Carson Copes, III and Estelle Givens Copes; three sisters, Bethany Villere, Darcy Dickenson and Diane D’Agostino; 4 nieces and 2 nephews; and numerous other family and friends.
Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of his life at Christ Church, 129 North New Hampshire, Covington, LA on Wednesday October 25, 2006 at 3:30 PM. The family would prefer donations in John’s memory to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, c/o Dr. Yuman Fong, 205 East 64th Street, New York, NY (212) 639-5200. Arrangements are under the direction of E.J. Fielding Funeral Home. Sign guestbook online www.ejfieldingfh.com.
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