Reverend Nancy Kepner, 90, died October 3, 2022 with her loving husband of 68 years, Philip Ralph Kepner at her side. She was born on January 26, 1932 in Garfield Heights, Ohio. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA degree in Education. It was here in 1951 she met her husband to be, and they were married on June 12, 1954. They began their life together as an Air Force couple in graduate school at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Nancy took some specialized courses in kindergarten teaching and taught first grade in Columbus while Phil completed his master's degree. The Air Force moved them to Wright Patterson AFB in January of 1956. Nancy continued teaching at the base elementary school until No.1 son, Raymond was born in June 1957. Phil became a dad and continued his military work and Nancy became a mom. After living the Active-Duty Air Force life in Dayton, they moved to Palos Verdes, California for the next ten years. No.2 son, Roger was born in Torrance, California in December 1959. Life in California was one of mom to two young boys, starting and managing a cooperative preschool nursery, herding cats and kids, PTA and Sunday School. Nancy also pursued her lifelong interest in developing her artistic talent. She became a member of the Palos Verdes Art Association through which she was able to study with teachers from the Los Angeles Art Institute.  As director of a cooperative preschool and nursery for six years she developed a source-book of children's art methods which was used in the Head Start schools in the Watts area of LA.

A move to Littleton, Colorado in 1968 gave Nancy the opportunity to choose art as her primary focus along with her family of husband with new job, two preteen boys, three cats, and a new house. She joined the Littleton Fine Arts Guild and continued experimenting with different media as well as subject matter. Her work went from oil painting to watercolor to acrylics and serigraphs. Some water color work was exhibited in the Rocky Mountain National Water Media Show. As a member of L'assemblage, a group of 9 women artists, each with a different distinct style, personality and media.  Nancy exhibited her paintings for eight years with this group and others. Because of her long involvement with liturgical art she and four other artists were invited to participate in the 1977 exhibition by Rocky Mountain Liturgical Arts Association. Nancy's logo design for  the St. James Presbyterian Church in Littleton, CO was shown.

With both sons away at college, Nancy felt called to return to school, so in 1980 she entered the Iliff School of Theology intending to seek credentials to become a pastoral counselor. Along the way she was encouraged by her teachers and her church to continue to graduation. In 1983 she graduated with a Master's Degree in Clinical Pastoral Education. She was ordained as a Minister in the Presbyterian Church USA and as a Board Certified Chaplain. She was a Chaplain at Presbyterian- Saint Luke's Hospital in Denver for three years. A memorable highlight of her career as a minister was during a wedding rehearsal near Friday Harbor, WA. It was outside on the lawn of a private residence when suddenly the whole wedding party turned their attention away from rehearsal and ran to observe a pod of orcas swimming past an ocean view point on the lawn. Nancy's reaction was to smile and remind the group it was rehearsal time and not whale watching time. In 1991, for the first time in the history of the Denver Presbytery, a husband and wife were elected to be co-moderators of the Denver Presbytery.

A beautiful person inside and out Nancy Jane Kepner will be remembered by her gorgeous smile, elegant style, and pastoral way of accepting people. She is survived by husband Phil and two sons, Raymond Kepner and Roger Kepner. Inurnment took place at Montview Garden Columbarium.