Graveside services for Windell Ray Epley will be on Friday, May 25, 2012 at 1:00 p.m in Oak Lawn Cemetery.
Windell was born on July 31, 1932 in Dora, Missouri to parents Hurvul and Jessie Epley. He died on May 23 in West Vue Nursing Center at the age of 79.
He was educated in the Dora school system and enjoyed spending time with his seven siblings, riding horses, and listening to gospel and country music. Windell was a member of the Church of God for all his youth.
Windell was employed at Boeing Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas before moving to West Plains, Missouri. There he became employed with Cloud Oak Flooring, Purina Feed, and Southwest Truck Body. He retired from Southwest in 1993 and devoted his time to his family and the family farm, raising angus cattle
Windell met the love of his life, Dorothy Lou Lowe and the two entered the union of marriage on November 5, 1968. To this union were born two daughters, Reta Kay Epley Crass, and husband Jerry, West Plains, and Dianna Raye Epley Locke, and husband John, West Plains. The couple had two grandchildren, Kevin Crass, Springfield, Missouri and Makenna Locke, West Plains
Windell’s wife Dorothy proceeded him in death on November 28, 2010. He is also preceded in death by his parents, siblings Roy Epley, Ethel Epley Collins, Ella Epley Dobbs, his mother-in-law, Zeta Harris Lowe, his father-in-law Roy Lowe, and brothers-in-law Leeman Collins, Lester Collins, Wayne Freeman, and Charley Dobbs.
He is survived by his daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, sisters Bertha Epley Collins and Lorena Epley Freeman, brother Donald Epley, sister-in-law Colleen Epley, sister-in-law Joanne Lowe Griffin, and brother-in-law Mike Griffin, and several nieces and nephews.
Windell was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He loved raising angus cattle, fox trotter horses, and his family. He was an extremely hard worker, loyal friend, and caring neighbor to all who needed him. He spent a great deal of his latter years devoted to helping care for his ailing sister Ella. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Burial will be under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains in Oak Lawn Cemetery.
May 23, 2012 @ 5:59 pm
Reta and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Dave and Gertie Jett
May 24, 2012 @ 7:40 am
Reta & Family:
So sorry on the loss of your Dad. May you treasure the many wonderful memories that have been made thru the years.
Love & God Bless,
Audena Granger
May 25, 2012 @ 10:38 pm
Dianna and Makenna,
I’m so sorry to hear about your family’s loss. I know it’s a difficult time and hope it helps in some small way to know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of many.
With Sympathy,
Becky Rutledge
May 29, 2012 @ 2:10 pm
Dear Rita and Dianna,
With a tearful and sad heart I write this note. What a great man your dad was and oh how I respected him. To me he was much more than just a man. He was like a second dad. WE had nick names for each other that we always greeted with. He cared for me as a child when my folks struggled. He taught me how to drive. He went with my dad and me to Arkansas to buy my first hogs for FFA. I helped him plant his fields in grass while walking through the downed sprayed timber all by hand on his original 40 acre home place. I still remember he and aunt Dorthy when they were first dating, and them meeting together at the grandparents for lunch.
They were both such great people that have forever made a lasting impression on me. They are already dearly missed. It will never be the same for me on my visits back home. I am so thankful for the opportunity to speak to uncle Wendell on my last trip home. He enjoyed seeing pictures of my horses. My last words to him was that he was like a dad to me and that I loved him. With tearful eyes he said that I was like a son to him and that he loved me too. He always seemed to be caring for others, grandparents, aunt Ella. A giant of a man! No other like him. Rita and Dianna, what fine parents you’ve had. I hope someday I can live up to their examples. Love, your cousin, Roger Epley