Rex Kephart, 79, of Murphy passed away Monday, October 31, 2016 in a Chattanooga, Tennessee hospital. Rex was a native and lifetime resident of Cherokee County. He worked for Citizens Bank & Trust, Wachovia, and Citizens Bank for 36 years, retiring in 1996. Rex also worked in the Cherokee County Tax Office for six years. He was a member of the Murphy Lions Club. Rex was also a member of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, but he attended Boiling Springs Baptist Church.

He was the son of the late Dee and Beatrice McDonald Kephart.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Mary Nell Sutton Kephart; two daughters, Cheryl Brown of Murphy, and Pamela Denton and husband, Kenneth of Collierville, Tennessee; two sons, Darryl Kephart and wife, Karen, and Barry Kephart, all of Murphy; a sister, Betty Kephart and husband, Kenneth of Murphy; two brothers, Jerry Kephart and wife, Pat of Murphy and Ricky Kephart and wife, Judy of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee; and three grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and a step-great grandchild.

Funeral services were held at 7:00 PM Thursday, November 3, 2016 in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Revs. Eddis Dockery and Calvin Murphy officiating. The interment was held at 11:00 AM Friday, November 4, 2016 in the Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were Roger Kephart, John Fowler, Johnny Phillips, Dan Miller, David Hilton, and Larry Shope. Honorary pallbearers were Steve Phillips, Dennis Dockery, Billy Carringer, Jimmy Carringer, Raby Carter, and men of Boiling Springs Baptist Church.

The family received friends from 5-6:45 Thursday evening at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy prior to the services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Rex Kephart to the Gideons International, PO Box 164, Murphy, NC 28906 and/or Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Sharon Kephart, 1045 Ebenezer Road, Murphy, NC 28906.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.