Helen Ruth Evans Epperley passed away in Holdenville on January 1, 2016, at the age of 81 years.

Helen was the daughter of Frederick Raymond Lee & Mattie Lee (Cosper) Lee, born on April 17, 1934, in Henryetta, Oklahoma. She was brought up and attended schools in the area, in the small towns of Pharoah, Weleetka, and Shidler.

The family later moved to Shawnee, where Helen graduated Shawnee High School with the class of 1952. She was married to Wilbur Eugene 'Gene' Evans the very next day, May 23, 1952, in Shawnee. They lived for a while in Shawnee and for a brief time in Kentucky and Texas while following construction work, then back to Shawnee before settling in Holdenville, their home since 1959. They were blessed with one daughter, Kathy, and one son, Kelly.

Helen worked eight years for Covey Corporation in the 1960s, but spent most of her life as a homemaker. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Holdenville, and also the Birthday Club of Holdenville. She enjoyed cooking, and she loved gardening, helping her husband, and any other work or play that allowed her to spend time outside. Gene passed away on September 19, 1989, after 37 years together. Helen married Bill Epperley in the spring of 1994; he also preceded her in death in May of 2002.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Fred & Mattie Lee; two husbands, Gene Evans, and Bill Epperley; her great granddaughter, Cassidy Reich.

She is survived by two children, Kathy Evans Akins and Kelly Evans (Linda), all of Holdenville; four grandchildren: Stacy Scroggins (David) of McAlester, Jamie Reich (Danny) of Sasakwa, Ross Evans of Oklahoma City, and Elizabeth Williams (Chad) of Weleetka; nine great grandchildren: Colby Scroggins, Travis Scroggins, Jillian Scroggins, Emma Scroggins, Piper Scroggins, Kaitlyn Reich, Alyssa Reich, Emily Reich, and Ezra Williams; two sisters, Mary Hale of Moore and Margaret Vance (C. R.) of Cleveland, Georgia; nieces and nephews, other family members, and many friends.

Funeral services were held on Monday, January 4, 2016, 1:00 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Holdenville, and Helen was laid to rest at Resthaven Memorial Park in Shawnee. Kelly Evans officiated, assisted by Rev. Abraham Gomez. Pallbearers were Brownie Harjo, Brian Smith, Danny Reich, Ross Evans, Colby Scroggins, and Travis Scroggins.