Keith Copponex

Keith Copponex, a native and resident of Baton Rouge, was called to his heavenly home on June 29, 2022, and reunited with his beloved son, Drew. Keith was born on November 18, 1955, the oldest of six children born to Freddie and Catherine Copponex. He was a graduate of St. Agnes Catholic School, Robert E. Lee High School, and Louisiana State University. It was at LSU that he met his future wife, Teri Roy. They married in 1980 and had two children, Keri and Drew, who made him proud every single day of his life. The years that followed centered around the school, social, and sports activities of their children, where many dear and lasting friendships were formed along the way. Keith was an avid outdoorsman. He has hunted and fished the land and waterways of Louisiana and Mississippi since childhood. In recent years, Keith spent much of his time fishing at his camp at Lake Rosemound. He was the ultimate fisherman, catching bass, sacalait, and bream, cleaning them all, and frying them like no one else could. In August of 2019, Keith retired as a chemist from Rubicon, after nearly 37 years of service. The deep friendships he made over the years at Rubicon continued to this day. In February of 2021, Keith was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a disease caused by his exposure to asbestos while working at a scaffolding company during summer and semester breaks through high school and college. He fought courageously over the next year and a half, undergoing major surgery in Houston, followed by chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy in Baton Rouge. He never quit fighting until all treatment options were exhausted. Keith was preceded in death by his son, Drew Michael Copponex; parents, Frederick Keller and Catherine Decoteau Copponex; father in law and mother in law, J. V. and Glenda Roy; brother in law, Robert L. Kleinpeter, III; and sister in law, Teri Perry Copponex. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Teri Roy Copponex; daughter and son in law, Keri Copponex Mullen, M.D., and William Cason Mullen, M.D.; the three greatest joys of his life, his grandsons, twins Hayes William and Keller Cason, and William Landry Mullen; siblings, Charmagne (Paul) Sagona, Sherri Kleinpeter, Greg (Elaine Deville) Copponex, Clint (Missy Perry) Copponex, and Bart Copponex; sister in law and brother in law, Vicki and Thomas Holden; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Hwy., on Tuesday, July 5, from 5:00 to 8:00pm. Visitation on Wednesday, July 6, will begin at Resthaven at 12:00pm, followed by funeral service at 1:00 and interment at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Keith will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, and brother, the proudest and most loving “Poppa”, and a hard working and loyal friend to many. The family would like to thank Dr. R. Taylor Ripley of the Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Vince Cataldo of OLOL Cancer Institute, and the caring staff of St. Joseph Hospice and the Carpenter House. We will be eternally grateful for their compassion. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you instead consider a donation to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, at www.curemeso.org. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.