Dwayne Kelly Epps was born January 29, 1957 in Bakersfield, California, one of three children born to Jane (Meyers) and Waylon Kelly Epps. He grew up in Santa Cruz and graduated from Los Gatos High School and immediately enlisted in the US Army. He served from 1973 to 1977 in Germany. Dwayne returned to Bakersfield and joined his father and uncle in the family business, Happy Bail Bonds. Dwayne married Shirley Cook on February 4, 1979, in Las Vegas and they celebrated 34 years of marriage. Later he worked for Gary Drilling as a tool pusher. He received his apprenticeship as a heavy equipment operator from Operating Engineer's Local 12. Dwayne returned to the bail bond business 20 years ago and was currently field operations manager for Absolute Bail Bonds. Dwayne loved playing video games (Battlefield) online against the 8-year-olds; he also loved watching football and was happy to see his 49ers make it to the Super Bowl. He enjoyed boating and water sports and just being near the water. Dwayne was a big fan of Dewar's Ice Cream and during the last days of his illness it was sometimes all he could eat. Dwayne was loved dearly and will be missed by his family; wife, Shirley Epps of Bakersfield; children, Eddie Nichols and wife Jennifer, Daniel Epps, and Jamie Colbert and husband Jason, all of Bakersfield; grandchildren, Jordan, Kyle, Madisyn and Kyndall Nichols, and Greyson Bowman; mother, Jane Conover of Santa Cruz; brother, Steve Whitewing of Louisiana; sister, Kristen Saxon of San Jose; and brother-in-law, Frenchie LaRue; best friend, Luci and grandson, Yesko. He was preceded in death by his father, Waylon Kelly Epps and parents-in-law, Edward and Altie Cook. Funeral services will be held Friday, February 22nd, at 11 am at Peters Funeral Home, Shafter for Dwayne Kelly Epps, age 56, of Bakersfield who passed away February 16th, 2013 in Bakersfield after an 8-month battle with cancer. Pastor Hector Rios of Valley Bible Church will officiate and interment will follow at Shafter Memorial Park.