Laureen Sue Eppler

Laureen Sue Eppler was born at the Vance Airforce Base in Enid, Okla. on November 24, 1959 to Teddy and Rebecca (Pratt) Eppler.  Surrounded by family and loved ones, Laureen left this life to receive her eternal reward in heaven at Tulsa Hillcrest Hospital on January 3, 2016.  She was preceded in death by her father, Teddy Eppler, her aunt Amelia Eppler, as well as other close relatives that have gone on. Laureen was quite the character from early childhood.  As a child, Laureen would rescue animals, and her parents never knew what "pet" she would bring home. She loved the outdoors and spending time with her family, especially her mom, Aunt Amelia, and her nieces and nephews. She was always adventurous, and it followed her throughout her life.

A hard worker and jack-of-all trades, Laureeen was never without a job.  She served as a detention officer for a correctional facility in Cushing, Okla, a certified armed security guard for the Pawnee Nation Travel Plaza and Pawnee Nation Trading Post.  When she lived in Tulsa, she worked as a security officer at Bank of Oklahoma in downtown, a taxi driver, pizza delivery driver, and groundskeeper for several businesses.  When she was younger, she lived in Quapaw.  There, she worked at the Quapaw Nursing Home and the J&M Mushroom Farm in Miami, while taking care of Eddy when he was a student at NEO.After moving home to Pawnee, her dad and grandmother, Myra (LoneChief) Eppler, called upon her to be the caretaker of her beloved Aunt Amelia; her dad and grandma entrusted her with the responsibility knowing she could be depended upon.  Aunt Amelia and Laureen were inseparable and could be seen together every Friday night.  Laureen always had an ice cream cone and a diet coke, and Amelia with a root beer float.  They always enjoyed their Friday night drive around the town.  After the death of our sweet Amelia, Laureen occupied most of her time by attending Pawnee Nation College.  There, she studied hard and really enjoyed school.  Laureen's favorite subject was American Indian Studies, and she liked questioning her professors on the subject. One of her favorite pastimes was football.  Two of her favorite teams were the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins.  Aunt Amelia made sure she kept track of OU football scores when they weren't on television.  Laureen would give her auntie a play by play!Laureen was a Christian and was baptized at Pawnee Indian Baptist Church.  She loved to dance and attend powwows.  She was a member of the War Mother's Club and served as a war mother's angel and helped out however she could whenever she was asked. Laureen was a free spirit, independent, strong-willed, and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.Laureen is survived by her mother, Becky Eppler of Quapaw, Okla., a brother, Eddy Eppler and his wife Anna also of Quapaw, Okla., a sister, Lozana and Mark Collins of Pawnee Okla., three nieces Shannon Foye of Shawnee, Okla., Toni Marshea Collins of Pawnee Okla., and Emma Eppler of Quapaw, Okla., and seven nephews Shane Eppler, Leroy Sletto, Michael Sletto, Cody M. Collins, Dusty N. Collins, Brett Cole Eppler all of Pawnee, Okla., and Skidi Eppler of Quapaw, Okla., and also her companion Robert Howell of Pawnee, Okla.  She also had four great-nephews and a great-niece.