Marion Kepley

CANFIELD – There will be a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, June 26th  11 a.m. at

St. Michael Parish in Canfield for Marion Virginia (nee Heil) Kepley, 94, who passed

away on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

She was born an only child to Clara and Tracy Burke on November 12, 1925, in Wheeling WV. She was a woman of exceptional strength and character who faced many difficulties throughout her life.  At the young age of 4, and at height of the Great Depression, she lost her father. She was raised by her mother, Clara, who never remarried. Marion attended the College of St. Mary of the Springs (Ohio Dominican University)and received her Bachelor of Science degree which was a rare thing for a woman at that time. She trained to become a medical technician and established a career working in the medical laboratory at Ohio Valley General Hospital in Wheeling, WV.

At the age of 25 she met her first husband, Eugene J. Heil II, and they were married in 1950.  The couple moved to Charleston, WV where her husband was a press official for the Governor’s office. They had two sons, Eugene Jacob Heil III and Matthew F. Heil. Tragically, her husband passed away from polio in the fall of 1954, just before the release of the Salk vaccine, leaving Marion a widow with two children. She returned to her mother’s home in Wheeling and reinitiated her career while she raised her sons as a single mother until she met her second husband, Richard B. Kepley.

The couple married June 4, 1960, and moved to Pittsburgh, PA, and together they had three additional children: Christine, Richard L. and Andrew B. Kepley. In 1966, the entire family moved to the Youngstown area. In Youngstown, Marion enjoyed a full and active life with her family and her many interests. She was a longtime volunteer and supporter of the Youngstown Playhouse and Fellows Riverside Gardens. She enjoyed the many friends she made over the years. Marion was an unassuming woman with many surprising strengths and talents. Marion was a woman of strong faith, which formed the core of the values she taught to her children. She was a long-time member of St. Christine Church and more recently St. Michael Parish of Canfield. After the death of her husband Richard in 2014, she continued a full life with her family.

Marion leaves behind a loving family and will be greatly missed by her beloved children: Eugene Heil (Elissa Mullis-Heil) of Charlotte, N.C., Matthew Heil (John S. Jonelis) of Sherman, CT, Christine Call (James Call) of Tallahassee, FL, Richard L. (Maureen) Kepley of Canfield and Andrew (Nancy) Kepley of Canal Fulton, and her six grandchildren: Anthony, Lauren ( fiance` Eric Ehrenberg), and Rachel Kepley, Josh and Joey Call, and Burke Kepley.

Family and friends may pay their respects Friday from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the church.

The Kepley family and the church will be practicing social distancing and proper health protocol. As a social courtesy, please wear a mask or facial covering.

If you are unable to attend. the family understands and acknowledges your thoughts and prayers as a tribute to Marion. The church will be live streaming the mass on their Facebook page.

Professional arrangements are being handled by the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Boardman-Canfield Chapel.