Dale Epperson

Longtime Nowata County resident Dale Edward "Duke" Epperson passed away unexpectedly in his home December 23, 2020. He was born August 26, 1943 at their home in rural Nowata County at roads 410 & 19, 1/2 mile from where he lived the last 65 years. His parents were Lloyd E. and Edna (Gibson) Epperson. He was a 1961 graduate of Delaware High School.

When Duke was only age 16, he experienced the unforeseen death of his dad. From that point he helped his mother care for the family farm. On June 17, 1966 he married Carol (Foster) Epperson. They raised two sons Eric and Todd and they all 4 worked together on the farm side-by-side. From the experiences of life on the farm together he was able to pass on knowledge of mechanics, ranching and life skills. He also had a wealth of knowledge on history, dates and how things worked from his many years of working on equipment. He passed this knowledge on to his boys as well as many of their friends along the way.

Through the years the family farm produced many commodities: crops, beef cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens, some rabbits, ducks and 2 gray mules!

Duke spent many years involved in his community. Some of the boards and committees he served on include: Nowata County Fair Board, Nowata County Spring Livestock Show, Nowata Soil Conservation, Farm Bureau County committee, and board member of Elm Bend Water District. Duke served as County Commissioner for Nowata County District 2 for twelve years.

Duke also enjoyed his community of neighbors and friends. Most evenings if he didn't have a meeting to attend you could find him with family or at a neighbors house helping and visiting. In recent years many of those visits were long phone calls, much of which were every day 'check-ins'.

Duke is survived by his wife, Carol, of the home, son Eric Epperson and wife Angie of Delaware, Ok, Todd Epperson of Nowata, Ok, grandson Greyson E. Epperson and grandson Britten E. Epperson as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Wayne "Butch" Epperson and sister-in-law Barbara Epperson, sister Ruth Spurgeon and brother-in-law Allan Spurgeon, and sister Erma Jean Ford and brother-in-law Jess Ford. He was also preceded in death by a niece Dawn Epperson.