Johnny Epley passed away in Holdenville on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at the age of 65 years.

Johnny was the son of Perry W. Epley, Sr. & Maxine (Wallace) Epley, born on November 21, 1946, in Grayling, Michigan. He was brought up in Oklahoma, in the Ada area. He joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 and served seven years, including five tours in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1970, and went to work in construction as a welder. He married Kathryn Marie 'Kate' Hudson in Michigan on December 29, 1972. They lived for a while in Michigan, Arizona, Texas and Oklahoma, then settled in Mississippi for 16 years. After the ordeal of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, they returned to Oklahoma and have made their home in Sasakwa for the past seven years. Johnny loved fishing and camping, gardening and woodworking. He enjoyed working with his hands and stayed busy working on something all the time.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Perry & Maxine Epley.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Kathryn, of the home; three sons: Michael Epley of Galveston, Texas, Johnathan Epley of Sasakwa, and Charles Epley of Biloxi, Mississippi; four daughters: Terri Fulton of Okmulgee, Janessa Michalk of Atoka, Jessica Garland of Roff, and Kelly Ferrill of Saucier, Mississippi; sixteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren; one brother and sister-in-law, Perry & Sarah Epley of Sasakwa, and one sister and brother-in-law, L. Sue & Fred Cox of Seminole; many nieces and nephews, cousins, and many friends.

Graveside services, with military honors, were held on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 11:00 a.m., Pontotoc Cemetery, Pontotoc, Oklahoma. Rev. Jason McIntyre. Pallbearers wre Charles Epley, Paul Fulton, Millard Epley, Perry Epley III, Marcus Michalk and Tim Eubanks. Honorary pallbearers were Perry Epley II, Mike Epley, Johnathan Epley, Chris McCalip, Almon Epley, Matthew Summers, Private Ryan Hudson, Lee Palumbo, Josh Whittington, Fred Cox, Robert Dale Hudson Sr., and Robert Dale Hudson Jr.