Sally Marie DePreker

          FLORENCE – Sally Marie Lucas DePreker died peacefully on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.  She was born on September 5, 1943, in Henryetta, Oklahoma, to Lucille and Second Lieutenant James Lucas, US Air Corps. The family added sister, Jennifer, and brother, Jeff, during and shortly after World War II. 

          During her primary years the family moved to several locations throughout Kansas, Texas, and Colorado, finally settling in Oklahoma where Sally attended primary and secondary schools.  She graduated from Nathan Hale High School in Tulsa.  Sally was quite active in various school and little theater productions.  She also participated in various speech and debate competitions ultimately winning the state “Voices of Democracy” competition, the state title contributed to her appointment to represent Oklahoma at the National Awards Ceremony held in Washington, DC.

          In 1961, Sally enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, where she pledged Chi Omega Sorority.  After recognizing her inherent administrative skills and organization ability, coupled with her propensity for action, Sally was selected to be the “Rush Chairman” for Chi Omega.  Chi Omega Sorority’s principles of service, scholarship, and loyalty, represented by the “Hootie Owl” mascot, influenced Sally’s lifestyle.  In acknowledgement and recognition of “Hootie,” Sally started her hobby of collecting various owl memorabilia, a tradition that became a family trademark.

          Earning her bachelor of arts degree in fine arts, Sally accomplished two significant events:  she married Chuck DePreker, a partnership that would last almost 60 years, and she started her first teaching position at Noble (Oklahoma) High School.  The DePreker family started to form!  Daughter Kelly was born in 1968 while Chuck was serving a tour as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in the Republic of VietNam, and their son, Chuck Jr., was born 15 months after Chuck returned.  In 1970, the foursome started their world-wide adventurous journey.  Hawaii was the first stop.  After four years, it became even more interesting and challenging.  Chuck shipped off to Okinawa, Sally and the two children went back to Oklahoma where Sally found a place to live, two different schools for the children to attend, and then enrolled at Oklahoma University to pursue a master’s degree in Language Arts.  After 13 months of separation, Sally was offered an opportunity to join Chuck in Okinawa.  Unphased, she picked up her diploma, packed the furniture, shipped the car to be transported from California to Okinawa, and flew herself and the two children on a 16-hour flight all the way to Okinawa.

          Three years in Okinawa teaching school, on to Albany, GA, settling family and teaching school in Lee County, Georgia; after two years going to Quantico, VA, and Dayton, OH, for a short stint, and then a journey to Seoul, Korea, where Chuck was assigned to the Military Assistance Group, United States Embassy.  It was in Korea where Sally made an abrupt change in her professional pursuits.  She was offered a position as a language instructor at the Language Institute at Yonsei University, a prestigious university where Sally rose to the position of Director of the English Division at the Institute.

          After two years in Korea, it was time for another set of military orders, this time to Southern California’s Camp Pendleton, At Camp Pendleton, more changes were made, thereby more adjustments were required.  At Camp Pendleton, Sally entered the federal work system as an entry-level clerk.  She then was promoted to be a Judicial Military Court Reporter, eventually rising to the managerial level as a Human Resource Retirement Specialist, GS 12, a position from which she retired in 2004, and relocating to Florence, SC.

          In Florence, Sally became a member of St. Ann Catholic Church.  She also volunteered with several committees at church, as well as joining the local chapter of NARFE.   She ultimately became president of the local chapter. Time in the pool exercise program at McLeod Fitness Center, attending to family matters, enjoying traveling, and volunteering occupied much of her well-deserved time in retirement.

          In addition to her husband, Chuck, Sally is survived by daughter Kelly (Sonny); sister, Jenny (Don); uncle, Jerry Lucas; daughter-in-law, Julee; grandchildren, Katie, Andy (Olivia), Margaret (Cameron), Sarah (Craig), and Charles (Sara); great-grandson, Anderson; as well as several nieces and nephews.

          She was preceded in death by her son, Chuck; her parents, Jim and Lucille; and brother, Jeff.

          A funeral mass will be said at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 10, 2025, at St. Ann Catholic Church with burial following in Florence National Cemetery.

          In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s’ Association.

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