Dean Irwin Van Epps

Dean Irwin Van Epps May 9, 1940 - June 4, 2025 Cecilia Lee Van Epps February 11, 1940 - November 11, 2023

Dean was born in Tieton, Washington to Fred and Claudia Van Epps. He attended Tieton area school and graduated from Highland High School in 1958. Dean married Mary Ellen Morris and together they had four children, Michelle, Jeffrey, Michael and Deanna. Jeffrey passed away in 1961. Dean lost his leg in a logging accident on the North side of Rimrock lake in the mid 60's but he did not let that slow him down. The family moved from Naches, WA to Hood River, Oregon in 1970. He worked as a cook at Terrible Tommy's and as a greenskeeper at Hood River Golf Course. After Dean and Mary divorced, Dean found his calling as a semi truck driver. While driving truck for Hood River Distillers, he met Cecilia Smith who was also a truck driver for Safeway.

Cecilia was born in Los Angeles, California to Cecil Brown and Alva Vander Wilt. Her family lived in several cities throughout Washington as her dad worked in construction as a welder. Cec married Dale Smith and together they had Dennis, Connie, Sharon and Karen. After Cec and Dale divorced, she met Dean Van Epps while she was driving a semi truck for Safeway. They talked over the CB radio. His handle was Scotch & Soda and hers was Diesel Dazzler. Dean left Hood River Distillers and joined Cec as a Driver for Safeway.

Dean and Cec married on May 13, 1988 and they drove trucks together until their retirement from Safeway. They retired in Ellensburg, Washington and had the Painted Rocking Horse Ranch. They both enjoyed doing leather work and Cec enjoyed oil painting.

They enjoyed driving through the Yakima River Canyon taking pictures of the wildlife. They took great pride in their horses and they were featured in Paint Horse magazine for their participation in the Dinner Bell race at the Ellensburg Rodeo.

They were a familiar sight around Ellensburg driving around town in their Rav 4 with the chipping paint. They enjoyed eating out at their favorite Ellensburg restaurants, Fiesta in Jalisco, Carl's Jr., China Inn, and DQ, as well as getting gas at JR's. Thank you to those staff who were always so kind to them.

Cecilia passed away on November 11, 2023 and Dean passed away on June 4, 2025. They were preceded in death by their parents, and children Jeffery Van Epps, and Sharon Stone, Dean's brother and sister-in-law, John and Clarvine Van Epps, and Dean's nephew Eric Van Epps. They are survived by their children, grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Kittitas Valley Healthcare and Compass Direct Ellensburg for their care of Dean and Cec for many years. A special thank you to Fieldstone Memory Care in Yakima for their care and kindness to Dean before his passing.

Graveside service at Terrace Heights Memorial Park is scheduled for August 16, 2025 at 10am. A celebration of life will follow the service at Keith and Keith funeral home on Yakima Avenue.