Ferne Eppers, 97, of Keokuk, IA passed away April 4, 2016 in Keokuk. Ferne was born on May 1, 1918, the second of three daughters born to Lester and Mary (Rhum) Biddenstadt of Keokuk, Iowa. Ferne graduated from Keokuk High School in 1936, and married Rhea Flambeau Jr. in 1940. To this marriage four children were born. Linda, Roger, Larry and Randy. She was an outstanding organist and during the late 1950's and the 1960's played at many corporate functions and private house parties. She had a style all of her own that truly amazed people when she played the Hammond B-3 organ with her left hand and her Baldwin piano with her right hand. Ferne was also a sales representative and demonstrator for Mundt Piano and Organ of Burlington, Iowa. She taught many tri-state children the art of keyboard out of her home. Ferne was a talented golfer and won several city golf championships in Keokuk, Ft. Madison and Carthage, Illinois. She also excelled at bowling, bringing home lots of ''hardware" from many tournaments. After Rhea passed away in 1972, Ferne married Mayor Charles "Chuck" Eppers of Keokuk in 1975. Ferne relished her many duties as Keokuk's "First Lady", one of which was to entertain important dignitaries that visited Keokuk in their sixth floor apartment in the Eppers Hotel. Two of those dignitaries were President and Mrs. Carter. After selling the Eppers Hotel in 1990, Ferne and Chuck retired to St. Petersburg, Florida where Ferne continued to play her Hammond organ at many functions on a volunteer basis. When Ferne turned 90 years of age in 2008, the St Petersburg community threw her a surprise birthday party with over 400 guests attending. Ferne was a life-long member of St Paul United Church of Christ in Keokuk. Ferne is survived by two sons, Larry and wife Gwynn Flambeau of Keokuk, and Randy and wife Kay Flambeau of Warsaw, IL ten grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, a niece and a nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, her two sisters, June Meyer and Betty Horst, husbands Rhea Flambeau and Chuck Eppers, daughter Linda Schilson, son Roger Flambeau, and step­ son Fred Eppers. A celebration of her life, as well as a celebration of her daughter's life, Linda Flambeau Schilson, was held at 1pm Sunday, July 3, at St Paul United Church of Christ Keokuk. Memorials may be made to the St. Paul United Church of Christ in Keokuk.