Memorial services for Bernice Golson, Age will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM, In the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, Missouri. Burial will be on one of those Ozark County hills she loved at the Loftis Cemetery near Romance, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Loftis Cemetery Fund, c/o Century Bank of the Ozarks, PO Box 68, Gainesville, Missouri.
Bernice Lorene (Stone) Epps Gibbs Golson, age 95, departed this life on September 6, 2025, in Norman, Oklahoma. Her transportation to Heaven was arranged and paid for by her Lord Jesus Christ. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Newcastle, Oklahoma. Bernice was born October 12,1929, in Noble, Ozark County, Missouri and was the first child of Sam and Fern (Naugle) Stone. Bernice had two younger sisters, Barbara and Sandra. Her family operated a farm in Ozark County. Except for three years in Iowa, Bernice attended elementary school at Romance School, Barren Fork Township, Missouri. She was a graduate of Gainesville High School, Class of 1947. She married Ernest Walter Epps, also from Ozark County, on May 10, 1947. Ernest and Bernice made their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they became the parents of three sons, Roger, Edgar, and Steve. Ernest and Bernice moved to Lawton, Oklahoma in 1958, to Ft. Smith, Arkansas in 1961, to Oklahoma City in 1963, and then to Newcastle, Oklahoma in 1969. No matter where they lived, Bernice always made sure that her boys attended Sunday School and church. She always loved going back to her beloved Ozark County for visits.
Bernice was a homemaker and an excellent cook. Although she was primarily a stay-at-home wife and mother, she sometimes was employed by Western Electric and Haggar Slacks in Oklahoma City. Bernice loved traveling, gardening, fishing, nature, pets, playing dominoes, gospel music, square dancing, water sports, visiting family in Missouri, singing in the church choir, fellowshipping with her church friends and worshipping the Lord. Bernice and Ernest Epps divorced in 1975. She moved to Lake Texoma, Oklahoma and later married Herman W. Gibbs. They made their home in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and later settled in Canton, Texas. Mr. Gibbs passed away in 1997, but Bernice remained at Canton. In 2000, Bernice married Ernest D. Golson. They continued residing at Canton until Mr. Golson passed away in 2011. Bernice moved to Newcastle, Oklahoma in 2012 so she could be cared for more effectively by her son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Sharlotte Epps. In 2014, Bernice was moved to Grace Skilled Nursing & Therapy, Norman, Oklahoma, where she lived out the rest of her years.
Bernice was preceded in death by her husbands, Herman Gibbs and Ernie Golson, her parents, Sam & Fern (Naugle) Stone, her paternal grandparents, William Jasper & Sarah Elizabeth (Baker) Stone, and her maternal grandparents, Thomas Edward & Ida Mae (Harley) Naugle.
Bernice is survived by her two sisters, Barbara (Stone) Morgan of Clarksville, Arkansas and Sandra (Stone) Snodgrass with husband, Norman, of Vienna, Missouri. She is also survived by her three sons, Roger Epps and wife, Sharlotte, of Tuttle, Oklahoma, Edgar Epps of Belton, Texas and Steve Epps and wife, Michelle, of New Braunfels, Texas. Also surviving Bernice are seven grandchildren, a step-granddaughter, 22 great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family would like to express our gratitude to the folks at Grace Skilled Nursing & Therapy, Norman, Oklahoma for their loving care of Bernice for so many years. We are also thankful for Good Shepherd Hospice, Norman, Oklahoma for their faithful service during Bernice’s last months.
Viewing will be 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at Wilson-Little Funeral Home, Newcastle, Oklahoma. Bernice’s memorial service will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM, In the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, Missouri. Burial will be on one of those Ozark County hills she loved at the Loftis Cemetery near Romance, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Loftis Cemetery Fund, c/o Century Bank of the Ozarks, PO Box 68, Gainesville, Missouri
