Ira Kay “Blackie” Kephart, 69, of Osceola Mills died Thursday at his home. Born Aug. 1, 1942, he was the son of the late Dorsey and Mae (Haines) Kephart.
Mr. Kephart was of the Christian faith.
He was a retired electrician for Union-Carbide of Piscataway, NJ. He graduated from the Philipsburg-Osceola High School in 1961.
He married Karen (Merrell) Kephart on Aug. 19, 1961 at the Ohio E.U.B. Church in Morgan Run-Osceola Mills. She survives him at home.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Kephart was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Bonnie Marie Kephart; two sisters, Bethel Wilkes and Dorothy Gomez; two brothers, Kerby and Gary J. Kephart.
He’s survived by one daughter, Sheila Natale and her husband, Frank of Middlesex, NJ; one son, Kevin Kephart and his wife, Jacinta of San Diego, Calif.; four sisters, Marion Gibson and her husband, Charles of Las Vegas, NV; Donna Jones and her husband, Clair and Josephine Wardo and her husband, George, all of Homer City; and Gloria Lutz and her husband, Allen of Brisbin; and two brothers, Kenneth Kephart and his wife, Pat of Bryan, TX and Keith Kephart of Sandy Ridge.
Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Michael, Patrick, Danielle, William, Kurtis, Austin, Malakai and Majana and one great-granddaughter, Amanda.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Heath Funeral Home with the Rev. Brian S. Vineyard officiating. Burial will be in the Sanborn Cemetery, Houtzdale.
Friends will be received from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday and from 1 p.m. until the hour of services Sunday at the funeral home.