Jul 25, 1923 — Sep 4, 2026
Leawood
Elsie Epperson died September 4, 2026 at age 103. Hers was a life full of loving family, purposeful work, rewarding friendships and gratifying hobbies.
Born July 25, 1923 in Blue Springs, Missouri, Elsie was the oldest of three siblings. She grew up in Blue Springs and Independence, Missouri, graduating from William Chrisman High School in 1940. It was here she met Robert Epperson whom she would marry in 1945. Their marriage lasted almost 70 years, ending with his death in May, 2015.
Elsie was proud to have been a homemaker for many years of her life. She frequently remarked that she had the “job” she always wanted — being a wife, a mother to two daughters, Susan and Carol. a homemaker for the family. She thrived on volunteering at her daughters’ schools, helping with Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls, being involved with church activities, sewing for both girls (and their dolls!), cooking delicious meals for her family and still finding time for a cup of coffee and a visit with neighbors.
As the girls got older Elsie took a job with the Internal Revemue Service, working for about 15 years before retiring.
After retirement Elsie was able to spend time being a grandmother extraordinaire to her two granddaughters, Amanda and Emily. She was always up for a project with them and avidly followed their adventures from their earliest days to school and on through college and beyond. In the last years of her life she was gratified to see these young women make their way in the world.
Retirement also meant more time for hobbies. While Elsie had always been a seamstress, it was in retirement that her interest in quilting took off. Although she came to the craft later than some she quickly established a mastery and many people benefited from her talents in this area. When in the last several months of her life she had to lay this hobby aside she still had reading, Wordle, crossword puzzles and her beloved cryptograms which kept her sharp to the end of her life.
Elsie met life openly, firmly believing life was rewarding. All her life she loved and was loved by her family. She appreciated her friends and acquaintances and if she hadn’t met you yet she would like to do so. She always had something she was looking forward to that was going to make life good. The world was better for her being in it for 103 years and she will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Elsie was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Epperson. She is survived by her daughters Susan Epperson (Fred Nielsen) of Omaha, Nebraska and Carol Toepfer (David) of Spring Hill, Kansas, by granddaughters Amanda Tallmadge (David) of Olathe, Kansas and Emily Epperson of Ithaca, NY, by three great grandchildren Sawyer, Noah and Savannah Tallmadge and by a brother Chester Jennings (Mary) of Donna, Texas.
Services will be held Monday, September 14 at 10:00 a.m. at the Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, Kansas. In lieu of flowers donations to the Parkinson Foundation are suggested.
Obituary published by Johnson County Funeral Chapel & Memorial Gardens.
