Kelson T Copas

An infectious laugh. A curious mind. A thoughtful and eager conversationalist. At the very least, these traits merely describe Kelson Copas, but at the very most, they evoke a precious memory of a bright and brilliant soul who blazed a trail which only few could ever follow.

Kelson Todd Copas, 28, of Wellston, passed away on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at the Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. He was born March 25, 1995, in Portsmouth, Ohio, son of Keith and Dee Copas, who survive. Kelson was a 2013 graduate of Wellston High School.

Kelson's mind could not be quieted. It was too active, too agile, and too restless to be contented by the simplicity of daily life. His thinking was like Alice disappearing down the rabbit hole, and once he was there, once he had latched on to something, he was determined to discover all that he could. He sought out knowledge from all corners of the globe, climbed mountains of theory and philosophy, and explored valleys of wisdom and insight. He knew no bounds and, as far as he was concerned, nothing was unattainable. This alone set him apart in this world, this desire to seek out challenges and constantly occupy himself with new and interesting information. He continually tested himself with writing, music, and learning, not just memorizing, but seizing upon ideas, balancing them, weighing them against one another, and then interweaving them with his own lived experience. Though he left this world young, he lived more richly, more deeply, and with greater passion than most could even imagine.

He continually fed himself with education, and most of it was entirely self-directed. He taught himself how to play the drums and the guitar, and then he took up singing and songwriting. He was relentless in this pursuit of new interests, pushing himself to master whatever it was that had caught his attention. Self-driven, self-motivated, self-actualized -- all of this, regardless of the situation, lived in him, and this is his spirit, his personality, the things which made him Kelson, the things which separated him from others, but brought him back to his family and friends, with who he would share his zeal for learning and enthusiastically engage in his latest fascinations.

We are not defined by that thing which consumes our life. Rather, we are defined by what and how we consume life, and in the case of Kelson, he feasted upon the intangibles which most people could not even grasp -- beauty, art, creation -- those things which made him such a gifted and talented person, loved by many, and held so dearly, and so proudly, by his parents.

To live with adversity, to live with trauma, to live with a body that has been changed by no fault of our own, these are substantial obstacles which warrant great achievement. No matter the circumstance, Kelson was authentic. Kelson was genuine. And at the same time, he fought bravely against great difficulty and great pain, which, in itself, is a tremendous accomplishment. In Kelson's case, we should look back upon his struggle as another fight to learn, to master, and to control, one which does not characterize his life, but rather, adds another layer to his complexity and to his uniqueness.

Kelson is unlike any other, including his twin brother, and it is his difference which makes him so very special and so incredibly loved, and also, so multifaceted. Were he a simple and ordinary person, he would have lived a very mediocre life, but his strong drive, his intellectual energy, and his creativity truly set him apart and they will continue to do so, in all ways, in all of our memories.

In addition to his parents, Kelson is survived by his twin brother, Garret Copas; maternal grandparents, Greg and Nila Milliken; great-grandma, Nellie Oyer; uncles, Matthew Milliken, Todd Copas, David Copas, and Chris Bishop; aunts, Mary Milliken and Cheryl Bishop; and great-aunt, Helen Logan; as well as several cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Mary and Alfred French and Bobby and Charlene Copas; an aunt, Kim Copas; as well as a cousin, Austin Milliken.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, from 3 to 7 p.m., in the chapel of R.M. Williams Funeral Service, 120 W. Broadway St., Wellston.

Please visit www.rmwilliamsfuneralservice.com to leave a message of comfort, encouragement, or condolence to the family or to view Kelson’s online video tribute.

R.M. Williams Funeral Service, Wellston, is honored to care for the Copas Family.