Vernon Malcolm Eppinette

VERNON MALCOLM EPPINETTE
December 22, 1953 - January 20, 2025
COX FUNERAL HOME
BASTROP, LOUISIANA
Vernon Malcolm Eppinette, Sr. of Bastrop, Louisiana passed away in Little Rock, AR on January 20, 2025 at the age of 71. Vernon was born on December 22, 1953 to Eva Virginia Eppinette (Pirtle) and James Harding Eppinette. He graduated from Bastrop High School in 1972. That same year, he enlisted in the army and attended Basic Training at Fort Polk in Louisiana. He was then stationed to Fort Bliss in Texas for two years, where he received his sergeant's stripe, a good conduct medal, and two letters of commendation. He then served in Hohenfels, Germany from 1973-1975. After returning from Germany, he served two more years at Fort Bliss, Texas.
Vernon spent over thirty years driving semi-trucks across the country for various companies. He would often provide advice on traveling directions including: shortcuts, scenic routes, traffic patterns, detours, or pit stops. He also shared wisdom on types of lumber, building supplies, and commentary on "how you could build it better if " due to the many years he worked in lumber and construction stores. During his younger years, Vernon enjoyed baseball, softball, hunting, fishing, and worked as volunteer fire fighter. He developed a love for the game of chess and was said to play a mean hand of Solitaire as well.
Vernon met the love of his life, Nannette Denise Kinnison in 1995 in Bastrop, Louisiana. They married and ultimately settled in Cleveland, Texas where Nan worked as a teacher. They were blessed with 21 years of life and love together. Vernon returned home to Bastrop, Louisiana after Nan's passing in 2016 where he lived with his mother, Virginia until her passing in 2022. He spent his last years living in Cabot, Arkansas with his oldest son and family and his faithful companion, Chaca, the Chihuahua.
Vernon is preceded in death by his wife, Nannette Kinnison Eppinette; his mother, Virginia Eppinette Pirtle; and his father, James Harding Eppinette. He is survived by his children: James Durwood Eppinette and wife Rebecca, Vernon Malcolm Eppinette, Jr. and wife Lisa, and Kelli Marceaux and husband Luther; stepson: Ben Sharplin; his grandchildren: Carson Arnold, James Micah Eppinette and wife Tracy, Carmann Carter and husband Calvin, Jerry Eppinette and wife Abbie, Kayla Eppinette, Hannah Turnbow, Clay Turnbow, Jonah Sharpe, and Helen Marceaux; great grand-children: Kaiden Arnold, Addison Eppinette, and Magnolia Carter; brothers: Dyar Eppinette and wife Theresa, and Hardy Eppinette and wife Angel; sisters: Eva Eppinette Jones and Jeanette Eppinette Sciara; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Visitation for Vernon Malcolm Eppinette, Sr. will be held Friday, January 24, 2025 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Cox Funeral Home of Bastrop, Louisiana. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM with Reverend Lisa Mayo and Bro. James Eppinette officiating at the funeral home. Committal services with military honors and burial will be at the Mer Rouge Cemetery under the direction of Cox Funeral Home.
Serving the family as pallbearers are Luther Marceaux, Jonah Sharpe, Jerry Eppinette, Hunter Eppinette, Helen Marceaux, Kayla Eppinette, and Hannah Turnbow. Honorary pallbearers are James Micah Eppinette, Alan Sciara, Nathan Sciara, Clay Turnbow, Bart Thomas, Deuce Eppinette, and Scott Merrill.