Barbara Candice Epperson passed away peacefully on January 22, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri following a long battle with multiple system atrophy. Even during the last months and weeks of her long illness, Candy lived her life as she always had: surrounded by her friends and family; especially her two children and her husband Bob – who, for all intents and purposes, never left her side during their nearly 50 years of marriage. Candy loved people and people loved Candy. And that love served as the foundation for her many close friendships, her utter devotion to her both immediate and extended family, and her years of service as a deacon at Broadmoor Baptist Church. Candy, with her outgoing personality, saw virtually no one as a stranger. To say she will be missed would be an immense understatement. Apart from being a loving mother and wife, Candy loved spending time with her friends and family. And, if she couldn’t see them in person, she never hesitated to call. Candy and Bob also loved to travel and were fortunate to travel the country and the world, often with friends or family and often chasing their daughter around the globe as she moved from continent to continent. Candy, the daughter of Gerald (Jerry and Ila was born December 11, 1946 in Columbia, Missouri. She graduated from Hickman High School in Columbia and Quincy College in Quincy, Illinois. She married Bob in 1969 during an incredible ice storm in Columbia and subsequently lived in Texas and Louisiana, where they raised their children and developed life-long friendships. However, Candy always considered Columbia and Clark County, Illinois (the two places where most of her family lived) home. Candy is survivied by her husband Bob; her daughter Martha, most recently of Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Ellie, Sam, and Jack – the three children of her son Robert Jr. and Jennifer Kingston, of St. Louis, Missouri. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Craig Epperson (Beth Jelsma) of Rochester, New York; sister-in-law Sharon Epperson of Sarasota, Florida; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives (whom she surely is offended that weren’t mentioned by name). Candy was preceded in death by her beloved parents; her sister and brother-in-law Ramona and William Downey of Marshall, Illinois; sister and brother-in-law Martha and William Lucas of Columbia, Missouri; and infant sister Rosemary; daughter-in-law Michele Epperson; sister-in-law Janet Epperson, and nephews Bob Downey and Joel Epperson. Visitation will be 10:00 to 11:00 AM Saturday at Pearce Funeral Home with graveside services immediately following in City Cemetery at Martinsville, IL. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 2nd at Broadmoor Baptist Church at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the BJC Foundation for Hospice – Evelyn’s House, PO Box 790369, St. Louis, MO 63179 (https://www.bjchospice.org/Donate) or to the charity of your choice. Online condolences are bering accepted at pearcefuneralservices.com.