Alice Hepner

Alice Elaine Hepner was born on July 19, 1928, in Selman, Oklahoma, on the Rodkey family homestead of Clive J. and Portia K. Carpenter. She was called to her Heavenly Home on November 27, 2024, in Norman, surrounded by family and caregivers while being lifted in prayer by many.

Alice was raised in Selman, where she graduated high school before attending Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva for a semester. On March 30, 1946, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert Lee (Bob) Hepner. They lived in Buffalo before moving to Laverne in 1966 after purchasing a Chevrolet dealership. Alice embraced life, helping run auto business books, build a new home, raise three daughters, and build two mountain cabins.

Alice was a lifelong member of First Christian Churches in Buffalo, Laverne, and Norman. She also attended Chapel of the South Fork in Colorado and, with that group, took her first international trips to Austria, Europe, Germany, Switzerland, the U.K., Scotland, and Ireland. However, her favorite place and heart belonged to Hepner Cabin #2 on the Rio Grande River.

Hosting was one of her accomplishments, as she served many family, friends, and neighborhood gatherings. She dutifully prepared salads and pancakes for FCC Laverne’s annual Groundhog Day celebration, sausage and eggs for Laverne Golf & Country Club's annual New Year’s Day breakfast, fish and hushpuppies for the Woodchuck Drive cul-de-sac, plus family reunions and holiday spreads that could rival a Southern Living test kitchen photo spread.

Alice enjoyed singing in the choir, playing golf, hiking in the mountains, playing cards, and entertaining grandkids. Alice sewed Easter dresses for Barbara, Marilyn, and Joanna in their early years, making each a special “doll cake” on their 16th birthday. She loved entertaining grandkids, and eventually great-grandkids, especially as they learned to visit and love the mountains experience with her.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Clive and Portia, two brothers, Winston Carpenter of California and Duane Carpenter of South Carolina, a sister, Clarice Roehm of Oregon, an infant son, Michael Robert Hepner, and oldest daughter, Barbara Hepner Cravens of Cedar Hills, Texas.

She is survived by two daughters, Marilyn Hepner McCary (Tracy) of Norman, and Joanna Hepner Behrens (Michael) of Shepherdstown, WV, four grandchildren, Kris Cravens (Leslie) of Wylie, TX, Kara Kilduff (Jim) of Mansfield, TX, Clay Newby of Austin, TX, and Chase Newby (Alise) of Norman, OK, four great-grandchildren, Liam and Noah Newby of Norman, and Audrey and Parker Cravens of Wylie, TX. Many nieces and nephews, along with dear family friends and Brookdale Norman Assisted Living staff, also survive her.

Instead of flowers, the family asks you to donate to a favorite charity, Laverne Cemetery Association or South Fork Fire & Rescue.

A celebration of life for Alice will be held Saturday, December 21, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Primrose Funeral Service, 1109 North Porter Ave, Norman, OK 73071.