Eddie Lee Kephart

Eddie was born on November 26, 1948 in Duncan, Oklahoma to Claudie Lee Kephart and Clara Mae (Blalock) Kephart. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving as a Sergeant in the United States Air Force. Eddie married the love of his life, Reba (Dale) Vondale (Lawson) Kephart on June 28, 1977 at Bible Baptist Church in Duncan, Oklahoma.

In 1982, Eddie graduated from the University of Oklahoma with his bachelors in Earth Science from the School of Geography. In 1989, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Master of Public Administration.

After serving in the Air Force, Eddie began working for the Oklahoma State Highway Department as an inspector on road construction. In 1979, he began his career at Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS -- formerly Soil Conservation Service) in Davis, Oklahoma, as a surveyor. After earning his bachelors degree, Eddie's career took him to Sallisaw, OK, Tulsa, OK, El Reno, OK, Alva, OK and Lawton, OK. In 1989, he was selected as the District Conservationist for Charleston County in Charleston, SC, four days before Hurricane Hugo hit the coast. As the District Conservationist, Eddie spent the next two years coordinating watercourse debris removal, dune stabilization, and river restoration under the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. He also served as the Water Resources Coordinator, Emergency Watershed Program Director in the state office in Columbia, SC.

In 1995, Eddie returned to Oklahoma where he served in various capacities with the USDA - NRCS as the Assistant State Conservationist for the State of Oklahoma, Resource Conservation and Development Program Director, State Administrative Officer, Public Affairs Officer, and Outreach Program Director within the State of Oklahoma. He also served on the USDA National Federal Program Assistant Task Force to Indian Country and on the Federal Clean Water Action Plan, where he received national recognition for his contribution to the Clean Water Action Plan. Eddie was also instrumental in establishing the NRCS Oklahoma Tribal Conservation Advisory Council.

In 2004, Eddie was appointed Director of the U.S. General Services Administration's (GSA) Native American Business Center in Denver, Colorado. As national director, he coordinated Native American and Alaska Native activities throughout GSA's 11 regions.

Eddie retired from GSA in 2006, where he then returned to Oklahoma to be with his wife, children, and his four grandchildren.

He loved spending time with his family, the outdoors, hiking at the Wichita Mountains, taking his dog Dandi on leisurely backroad drives, listening to southern gospel music, and working on his 7-acres in Bridge Creek, OK. He loved attending Native American cultural events and chuckwagon gatherings. Eddie was a self-proclaimed "hot-dog connoisseur" (beef only, heating optional), an avid ice-cream lover, and loved to have cookouts with family.

Eddie was a member of Southwest Baptist Church and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

Eddie is survived by his wife of nearly 48 years, Reba (Dale) Vondale Kephart of Bridge Creek, OK, his daughter, Tamma Vondale Foster and husband Randall of Oklahoma City, OK, his son, Eddie Lee Kephart Jr. of El Reno, OK, two sisters Edith Davis of Arcadia, OK, and Claudia Pittman and husband Billie of Duncan, OK, and his four grandchildren, Justin Lee Kephart of El Reno, OK, Addison Elizabeth Foster of Moore, OK and her fiancé Ryan Brooks, Miranda Wake and husband Hunter of Yukon, OK, Samantha Mae Kephart of Moore, OK, and his beloved dog Zita. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister and brother-in-law, Peggy Sue and Rodney Haviland and brother-in-law Bill Davis.

Family visitation will be at Primrose Funeral Home in Norman, OK on May 22 from 6-8PM. Graveside services will be at Fort Sill National Cemetery on May 23 at 11AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association for team "Ed's Memory Makers" at https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2025/OK-Oklahoma?team_id=955982&pg=team&fr_id=18839