Vera Mae Turner Epling was born July 9, 1948 to Manley and Selma (Kothman) Turner on the family farm southeast of Vici, Oklahoma. She was the seventh out of nine children. She passed from this life at her home in Vici, Oklahoma on August 27, 2012.

Vera's mother told her the day she was born the house was full of Brethren and Elders praying for Vera and her mom because she was being born breach. She said when Vera was finally born she wasn't breathing and that her aunt Lois Turner breathed air into her mouth and she started breathing. With the prayers of the brethren she lived and grew up on the family farm and loved playing with her brothers and sisters. Vera attended school at Vici School from the first grade through the ninth grade. Then on September 5, 1965 her sweet son Troy Don was born, she loved him very much. On May 29, 1966 Vera was baptized by Elder Jud Poulson into the General Assembly and Church of the First Born in the pond north of the church at Vici, Oklahoma. She really enjoyed going to church.

In the spring of 1968, Vera started caring for Sister Verna White. She would be with her through the week while her parents kept Troy and she would return home on the weekends. On May 3, 1968 Vera met the love of her life, Ira Epling, at the White's Hotel where she was helping Sister Verna clean. Ira and Vera wrote letters back and forth to each other until Ira returned to Vici to work for Vera's dad as a hod carrier. Vera and Ira were married on December 30, 1968 in Fairview, Oklahoma. After the wedding Vera and Troy moved to Fairview with Ira. Ira loved Troy and raised him as his own. Ira and Vera lived in several different places during their married life.

Vera loved serving others, sewing, wheat weaving and visiting with brethren and family. She especially loved her grandsons and enjoyed watching them grow up.

Vera is preceded in death by her husband, Ira Epling; parents, Manley and Selma Turner; brothers, Dwaine Turner and Paul Turner; sisters, Colleen Easter and Ione Castor.

Those left to cherish her memories are son, Troy Turner and wife Cindy of Turpin, OK; grandsons, Matthew Turner and wife Channette of Albuquerque, NM and Adam Turner of Fairview, OK; granddaughters, Shawna Chester and husband John and Kayla Mitchell; step-grandchildren, Kyle, Kody, Kelsi, Katie, and Kacie Moree; great-grandchildren, Jaidyn, Kyson, Kye, Haven, Ila and Katie Beth; brothers, Gary Turner and wife Carol of Vici, OK and Dennis Turner and wife Cheryl of Vici, OK; Sisters, Linda Milson of Orrville, OH and Rhonda Reed and husband Stan of Gage, OK; many nieces, nephews, brethren and a lifetime of friends.