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Jesse Carl Kephart was surrounded by his loving family, at home, as he peacefully entered his Eternal Rest, on Thursday, December 22, 2022 at the age of 82.
Jess was the only son born to Willis & Arline Foster Kephart, on August 25, 1940 in Southard, Oklahoma.
As a young boy, he grew up on the farm. Jess had a love for dogs of any kind, with his true love being his hounds. He shared that love of listening to his hounds run the creeks with his Dad. He was known to be an avid coon hunter in the area, having some of the best hounds any man could ask for. One of his last times to run his hounds was at the age of 78. He always kept around a large selection of good hounds, but shockingly, he only had 3 hounds around the house after he could not hunt anymore, with Harry ultimately being his favorite. He loved to hunt and trap bobcats as well. Both of his loves for hunting and trapping have been inherited by several grandsons, which made him very proud. When his grandsons and son in laws were around, they always exchanged hunting and trapping stories.
As a boy growing up on the farm, he proved at a young age that he wasn’t afraid of hard work. He would milk cows, pick cotton, work ground, gather and work cattle. He eventually raised good cattle and outstanding horses right along side his Dad and Momma. Jess attended school at Longdale and Southard, and his senior year, he attended Canton High School, and graduated with the Class of 1958. He loved playing baseball throughout his school years. His love for the game was passed down to one grandson and that made him a very proud Grandpa. Jess attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University for one year before he returned to the Southard area and started working at United States Gypsum Company, where he sacked plaster by hand and soon started his own ranching operation.
On a cold October 21st night in 1961, Jess attended the football game in Okeene, and the homecoming queen caught his eye. Before the end of the dance that night, he knew her name and danced a few dances with her. Little did he know, Judith Dumler would soon be the forever love of his life. They began dating, and on November 8, 1962 they were married at First Christian Church in Okeene, Oklahoma. Jess and Judy made their home in the Southard and Canton area. Becoming parents was one of their greatest blessings. Carie, Kelly, Angela and Janet were all of their favorite daughters. They traveled many miles for nearly 25 years watching their girls play basketball, often joking as to where the girls got their talent from. They really enjoyed those years, and were very proud of the success their daughters had on the basketball court.
Ranching was a way of life for Jess and Judy. In the early 1970s, Flying J Rodeo Company came to life. Jess and his Dad had an eye for good bucking stock and they began to put on rodeos around the local towns, and neighboring states. Two bumper pull trailers, and a set of stock racks hauled the stock. By all means, they didn’t get rich from profit, they did get rich from the memories made, the great people they met, and the young cowboys they watched start their rodeo career that carried on to becoming World Champions. Jess loved the young kids and always put on a lot of little britches and junior rodeos during those years. On Sundays, you could find Jess and his Dad along with Kevin Smith, Alonzo, Winslow and Marcel Sankey, helping him buck out bulls at his homemade bullpen. Young cowboys from the area would always show up to get on some prime, rough Kephart Bucking Stock. His most recognized accomplishment was raising the infamous J31, better known as Bodacious. Who would go on to be the PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year. Bodacious was eventually retired as one of the most dangerous bulls in the sport of rodeo. Jess was a smart and knowledgeable horseman. He loved breeding and raising an outstanding, loud paint horse. He was very well known in the horse industry and he rarely ran into anyone that didn’t know him. One thing he has been heard saying, “I will always have my horses, and I will always have my dogs”, and that held true.
Jess was known for being a hardworking, honest, and prideful man, a loving and devoted husband of 60 years to his one and only true love, Judy. A protective Dad that taught his 4 daughters the value of what hard work will get you in life. A father-in-law that was beyond proud of his son in laws and loved them as the sons he never had. He told his 4 girls that they have good men, that take great care of them. And lastly, a Grandpa that enjoyed all of the grandkids and great grandkids with all of their funny moments they shared with him. Grandpa always had a good laugh at their expense, and a phrase of his own, that only his grandkids knew what he meant. Eventually those turned into “Man Talk” with all of the grandsons. His only granddaughter held a special place in his heart. She was as protective over him, as he was her. After every visit, upon leaving, he would tell her, “I WANT YOU TO BE REAL CAREFUL OUT THERE YA KNOW, THEY DON’T TAKE THE UGLY ONES” As you can see, he gave the best advice, and voiced his opinions often. With Jess you knew exactly what was on his mind.
Jess is preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Arline Kephart, baby sister Eloise Marie, His in laws, Ray and Norine Dumler, and his son in law, Jerry Scott.
He is survived by Judy, his loving and devoted wife of 60 years, and his 4 daughters and son in laws. Carie and Terry Tate of Eagle City, Oklahoma, Kelly and Mickey Bullis of Hennessey, Oklahoma, Angela and Mat Dauphin of Laverne, Oklahoma, Janet and Shannon Sinclair of Canton, Oklahoma. Big sister, Shirley Garrett of Watonga, Oklahoma and his baby sister and brother-in-law, Ginger and Terry Spencer of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Grandchildren, Derrick and Kristin Scott, Kelby and Regan Scott, Rochelle and Zach Nichols, Jesse Cassingham and fiancé Siena Wolverton, Kylee Blehm, Cale Blehm, Shelby and Makyla Long, Kooper Long, Jake Sinclair and Jarrett Sinclair. Great Grandchildren, Jesse, Cole, Lyndlea, Jaxson, Brykin, Kinsley, Leddy, Tali, and Oakley.
Funeral service will be Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at 2:00 pm in Canton Christian Church, Canton, Oklahoma. Burial will follow in Canton Cemetery under the direction of Anderson-Burris Funeral Home, Enid. Viewing will be Saturday and Monday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at Pierce Funeral Home, Canton, Oklahoma.
Memorials may be made through Anderson-Burris to Canton Christian Church. Condolences may be made online at www.andersonburris.com.
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