Winifred L. Epperson

WINIFRED (Winnie) L. EPPERSON, 67 of Lemoyne (former Lewellen resident), passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at Ogallala Community Hospital.

Winnie was born December 30, 1949 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Thomas and Margaret (Jacobs) Schooley. Her father was in the oil field industry so the family moved often. She attended schools in New Mexico, Nebraska and Oklahoma graduating high school in Enid, Oklahoma with the class of 1968. She attended college at the University of Wyoming at Laramie.

In 1970 Winnie met Charles Epperson while both were involved in stock car racing. They married on August 8, 1970 in Gillette, WY. Charles was employed in the oil industry so the couple moved often making homes in Kimball, Green River, WY, and eventually settling in Denver, CO. The couple was blessed with two children.

Winnie enjoyed the medical field and was employed as an x-ray technician and a medical transcriber for an orthopedic surgeon's group. Her analytical mind steered her in an eventual career as a technician for IBM, then for an independent company, working on typewriters, copiers and computers.

The couple moved to Lewellen in 1984. Winnie had experiences working as a secretary at Ogallala High School and Dudden Law Office, as well as continuing her technician career at Office Services in Ogallala. In 1990, Winnie and Charlie bought Lewellen Lumber Company in Lewellen, where she ran the office and the store.

Winnie was an especially talented lady. She had a mind for details and logistics that made her a very fast learner. With all her years at the lumber yard, she amassed a tremendous sum of contracting and carpentry knowledge, which she readily used on her own home improvement projects. She enjoyed crafting of all kinds and was a very skilled artist. She and Charles were car collectors and enjoyed taking their cars to car shows. She was passionate about the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, camping, arrowhead hunting, bug collecting and bird watching. She especially loved being a mother and grandmother and shared her excitement of learning with her children and grandkids. Winnie loved the Lord and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Winnie was preceded in death by her parents Tom and Marge Schooley.

Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Charles of Lemoyne; daughter, Leslie (Dennis) Miyamoto of Grant; son, Charles Russell (Russ) Epperson of Broken Bow; grandsons, Christian Miyamoto of Houston, TX and Chase Miyamoto of Denver, CO; sisters, Sherry (Alan) Tipps of Stillwater, OK and Darla (Sheri Milner) Schooley of Congress, AZ; along with nieces and nephews and many good friends.

A memorial has been established in her memory to fund research in the area of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Condolences can be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the service will be streamed live for those unable to attend.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 11am at the old Lewellen high school auditorium. Interment of cremains will follow in the Ash Hollow Cemetery.

Memorial book signing will be held on Friday, May 19, 2017 from 1pm until 6pm at Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Ogallala.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.