A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Smiley Ray Epperly at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Lafayette. Smiley was 67 when he entered eternal rest on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at his residence in Lafayette with his loving family by his side.

The family requests that visitation be observed at Martin & Castille’s SOUTHSIDE location on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will continue Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, from 8 a.m. until time of the Funeral Mass.

A Rosary will be prayed by Brady LeBlanc at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, at Martin & Castille Funeral Home, 600 E. Farrel Rd. Lafayette, La. 70508.

Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Milton. Deacon Phil Lizotte will lead the Rite of Committal Prayers.

The Reverend James Brady, JCL, Pastor of St. Pius X Catholic Church, will be the Celebrant of the Funeral Mass.

Left behind to cherish his memory is his beloved wife of 46 years, Frances Guillory Epperly; his son Brandon Epperly and his wife Katrina; his daughter, Kimberly Epperly Broussard and her husband Derek; his grandchildren Savannah, Asher, Eli, Leo, Clara and Grace Epperly, Elizabeth McDaniel, Madelyn, Rebecca, and Isaac Broussard; his brother, Donald Epperly and his wife Linda of Hemphill, Texas; his sister Connie Epperly Perkins and her husband Alvin of Lake Charles, La.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Epperly and Wilda Taylor Epperly; his paternal grandparents, Frank Epperly and Rosalee Prentice Epperly and his maternal grandparents, Smiley Taylor and Alta Ardoin Taylor.

Smiley was a native of Welsh, La. and was a 1973 graduate of Welsh High School. He was a machinist at Cameron Iron Works and Howell Industries. He went on to open his own machine shop in Westlake, La. After relocating to Lafayette, he became an Insurance Agent with Allstate Insurance Company and had twenty-seven successful years before retiring in 2012.

Some of his hobbies included hunting, fishing, and cooking, but one of his passions was coaching his son’s youth sports teams. Although he had many interests in life, his greatest passion was his family, especially his grandchildren.

Upholding the honor of pallbearers will be Brandon Epperly, Derek Broussard, Donald Epperly, Derek Epperly, Jonathan Doucet, Paul Pousson, and Tim Broussard.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Michael Pousson and Alvin Perkins.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Catholic Masses be said in Smiley Ray Epperly’s name.

A heartfelt appreciation is extended by the Epperly family to Traditions Health Hospice for  the compassionate care given.

View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com Martin & Castille-SOUTHSIDE-600 E. Farrel Rd., Lafayette, La. 70508, 337-984-2811