John Thomas "JT" Eppard

1939-2014 John Thomas (JT) Eppard, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, went home to be with our Lord on Friday, June 13, 2014 at the age of 75. JT was born on April 13, 1939 in Springfield, Missouri. In August of 1946, he moved to Los Lunas, New Mexico where he graduated from Los Lunas High School in 1958. He was awarded a medal from The National Science Foundation and another from the Department of the Navy for his valuable contributions in scientific exploration from his tour in Antarctica in 1987. He worked for many local dairies and families in the Los Lunas area. JT owned and ran "JT Eppard Construction Company" for several years. After retiring his business, he worked for Edeal Dairy for 2 years. JT caught the first blue catfish registered in the state of New Mexico which weighed in at 19 pounds. JT was an outdoorsman and an avid hunter who enjoyed hunting all different kinds of wildlife. He took pride in his garden, growing fruits and vegetables that he donated to Joy Junction and then shared the rest with friends and loved ones. JT loved spending his weekends watching NASCAR races, taking trips all over the country with his wife and especially to Santa Fe for the Bluegrass Music Festivals, and spending time with his kids and granddaughters in Texas. He was a man of many talents, from his ability to build homes from the ground up, teaching himself to play various musical instruments by ear, to his uncanny ability to fix almost anything that man ever created. He was preceded in death by his parents, Madge L. Wray and Jesse A. Eppard; sister, Dixie Lee Eppard; brother, Hershel Eppard; and sister, Mary Kay Greeton. JT is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Patricia (Grandma) Eppard; son, Merl Eppard and his wife, Billie Joe; daughters, Elizabeth Thibodeau and her husband, Mark and Sheila Louviere and her husband, Joe; granddaughters, Hannah and Emily Louviere; brothers, Jess Eppard and his wife, Judy and Bill Eppard; sister, Betty Krikruff and her husband, Loyd; brothers, Bob Eppard and his wife, Kaye and Charles (Mickey) Eppard and his wife, Mary Lou; sister, Bonnie Gensen and her husband, Jack; brother, Don Eppard and his wife, Debbie; and brother-in-law, John Kevin Cooper. He is also survived my numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. All services will be held at Romero Funeral Home Chapel, on Thursday, June 19th, beginning with a Viewing at 11:00 a.m. with a Funeral Service to be held at 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Terrace Grove Cemetery. Sign JT's online tribute at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main Street, Belen, NM

John Thomas "JT" Eppard

April 13, 1939 - June 13, 2014