Leonard C. Copes Jr.

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Leonard Chester Copes Jr., 57, of Auburn, New York, passed away unexpectedly on November 5, 2025.

 Born on March 5, 1968, in Auburn, New York, he graduated from Auburn High School, later attended DeVry Institute of Technology in Columbus, Ohio and went on to work for the State of Ohio Workers’ Compensation Division. He then relocated to Louisiana, where he was a claims adjuster for Medicaid. In his free time, Leonard enjoyed cooking, playing cards, bowling, watching movies, and going to the casino. Above all, Leonard cherished time with his loved ones, including his cat, Kitty Fruit. Leonard could make you smile on your darkest day. He was full of life, his personality was infectious and bright, and he had a sense of humor that was unmatched. An avid storyteller, Leonard would often reminisce about times past. His stories were often told at family gatherings, where he would have the entire room bursting into tears of laughter. Although Leonard is no longer with us in the physical sense, his spirit will always uplift and inspire us. May he rest easy in eternal paradise. “Those we love don’t go away; they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near - still loved, still missed, and very dear.”

 He was predeceased by his parents, Leonard Chester Copes Sr. and Barbara Ann Hall, and his sister, Keisha Copes Boothman.

 He is survived by his sisters, Shayna Copes and Cassandra Copes, his stepmother, Lorraine Copes, brother-in-law Sean Boothman, along with a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Leonard had a particularly close relationship with his cousin Tia Gilliam, whom he loved like a sister.

 A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at the Booker T. Washington Center, 23 Chapman Ave., Auburn, New York.

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