IN MEMORIAM:  Chris Kepner, 55;

Judge’s Son Worked For Bruce Hall

COOPERSTOWN – Christian Taylor Kepner, 55, died Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, after a series of health issues.

He was born June 18, 1961, at Fox Hospital in Oneonta, to Susan Noakes Kepner and George S. Kepner, Jr., a retired Otsego County Surrogate Court judge.

After graduating from Cooperstown High School, Chris attended school to become a farrier. He worked for Aufmuth’s in Fly Creek for a few years and then went to Bruce Hall Corp. in Cooperstown while in his 20s, and stayed with them for the rest of his working career.

Chris was an upbeat, devil-may-care person and was well-known to many.  His loves were work, golf and his kitties.

Chris is survived by his nephew, Taylor Kepner; sister-in-law Tassha Rathbone; stepmother, Claire Kepner; stepsister, Rachael Demsker, and her husband, Robert, and son, Theo;  stepbrother, Jay Crossman and his wife, Danya, and children, Lauren and Hunter; Uncle Donald Noakes and his family; his good friends Mark Althiser and Bill Fort; and his work family at Bruce Hall Corp.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Susan N. Kepner, who died Dec. 28, 1988, his father, George S. Kepner, Jr., who died Oct. 30, 1993, and his brother, Matthew Donald Kepner, who died July 6, 2015.

Chris’ family greatly appreciates all the care and support he received from Bruce Hall Corp. employees and his many caregivers at Bassett Medical Center.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.