Benita Kepler

Benita Beatrice Breeding Kepler died at home in The Colony, Texas, on April 12, 2018, at the age of 61 after a lengthy battle with melanoma cancer. Benita was born on September 14, 1956, in Dallas, Texas, to Clarence and Juanita Breeding. She was the third of four siblings. She met Jimmie Kepler attending youth group at Calvary Baptist Church in DeSoto, Texas, where they married in December following her graduating with honors from DeSoto High School in May of 1974.

Benita started married life as the wife of an officer of the US Army, first in Columbus, Georgia, then Tacoma, Washington, where they had eldest son Kristopher. Upon Jimmie leaving the Army they returned to Texas where Benita delivered son Jason while Jimmie attended seminary. The family spent time in Decatur, Georgia, and Bogalusa, Louisiana, before staying in Jasper, Texas, for eight years, where Sara was born. Benita and family lived in both Buna and Denison, Texas, before settling down in The Colony, Texas, where they have lived for over twenty years. While living in The Colony, Benita was blessed with one of her life’s greatest joys, granddaughter Aurora.

Benita cared for the children at Family Life Learning Center in The Colony for five years before she started working at Walmart, where she worked for over fifteen years and was fortunate to make many friends. Benita had a gift for forging strong friendships that withstood distance and time apart. Friends and family remember her beaming smile, contagious laugh, and giving spirit. Benita loved traveling to explore new places and to visit her sisters and extended family, and it wasn’t unusual for road trips to turn into spontaneous sing-alongs. One of Benita’s favorite vacations was a “bucket list” road trip that took her and Jimmie to places like the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory in Waterbury, Vermont, and much to Benita’s delight, Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Everyone who knew Benita knew that chocolate ranked right up there with God and family as the things she loved most.

Benita was active in all aspects of her children’s school and church activities, attending numerous band recitals, choir concerts, sporting events, and school musicals. She expressed on many occasions how wonderful those years were and how they created so many special memories. While raising her children Benita ministered to her church family in numerous ways: singing in the choir, teaching preschool-aged children, and praying diligently for those in need, to name a few. Having accepted Christ as her Savior at a young age, Benita knew the power of prayer and maintained a personal quiet time with the Lord until her last days.

Benita was preceded in death by her parents and brother Willie. Survivors include husband of forty-three years Jimmie Kepler of The Colony, Texas, children Kristopher Kepler of Carrollton, Texas, Jason Kepler of The Colony, Texas, and Andy May of The Colony, Texas, son-in-law Matt Andrewartha and granddaughter Aurora of North Richland Hills, Texas, sister Rosemary Alexander and husband Mike of Aguilar, Colorado, sister Joette Jones and husband Carey of Sevierville, Tennessee, brother-in-law Michael Kepler and wife Christine of Destin, Florida, niece Angela Daniels and husband Heith, nephew Michael Alexander and wife Jenn, nephew Charlie Breeding, nephew Jared Jones and wife Haley, nephew Ryan Jones, niece Sarah Denham and husband Steven, niece Lauren Federow and partner Peri, niece Reba Crabtree and husband Eric, nephew Christopher Kepler and niece Margaret Kepler, as well as many great-nieces and great-nephews. The family cat, Lacey, also misses Benita dearly.

Visitation is from 6:00pm - 8:00pm on Tuesday, April 17 at Metrocrest Funeral Home, 1810 N Perry Rd, Carrollton, TX, 75006. The funeral service is at 11:00am on Wednesday, April 18 at the Faith Chapel of Prestonwood Baptist Church, 6801 W Park Blvd, Plano, TX, 75093. Interment is with immediate family on Thursday, April 19 at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Prestonwood Baptist Church Missions, 6801 W Park Blvd, Plano, TX, 75093.