NEWTON — William (Bill) Kepley, age 88, passed away peacefully on Aug. 5, surrounded by his family.
Bill was born Oct. 7, 1936, in Chanute, the fifth son of Ernest and Ethel Kepley.
He spent his childhood in Chanute on the family farm, attended Neosho Public Schools, and graduated from Chanute High School in 1954.
There he met and married the love of his life, Donna Mae (Austin.) The two set up house in Wichita, where Bill worked for Boeing on the flightline inspecting fuel tanks. Later, he left aviation and entered sales as a department manager at Sears in the paint department, and later Kmart, in appliances. Later, he would go on to be a sales manager for the appliance distributor SA Long in western Kansas.
The family moved from Wichita to Halstead in 1971. With the experience gained, he purchased Newton Appliance Center in Newton in 1978. He and his wife, Donna, successfully served Newton and the surrounding communities for over twenty years until retiring from the business in 1999.
After retirement, Bill’s love of his community extended to Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, Friendly Acres Nursing Home, and United Methodist Youthville where he helped to fix what needed fixing with a smile and the knowhow to get the job done.
Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Donna Mae (Austin); parents, Ernest and Ethel Kepley; brothers, Charlie Kepley, Dean Kepley, Neil Kepley, and Ernest Kepley; and sister Peggy (Kepley) Woods.
He is survived by son, Jeffrey Kepley; and his children Gary Kepley (Marissa Kepley) of Council Grove, Lacie (Kepley) Fair (Darren Fair) of Newton; daughter, Janet Kepley of Grants Pass, Oregon; and her sons, Trevor Huebert (Sarah Shah) and Cameron Huebert both of Portland, Oregon; son, Jerry Kepley and daughter-in-law, Michelle Kepley, of Burton, and their son, Andrew Kepley (Emily Kepley) of Newton; and cherished great-grandchildren Grady, Parker, Maggie, Cora, Madison, Allie Jo, Bentley, and Emrys.
Bill will be remembered by his ornery nature, steadfast heart, and devotion to those he loved.
Services honoring Bill will take place at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church on Aug. 22 at 2 p.m.
