What science brings together, no one can separate, and one of those things is the Eppersons.
Webb City natives Lacy and Jarrett came to Missouri Southern for the affordable education. The university allowed them to live at home and form new connections.
Jarrett took a year off from school to join the military, and upon his return from Basic Training, their mutual friends threw a “welcome back” party, and Lacy’s friend begged her to go.
“He and I had met in high school, but we didn't know each other well,” Lacy explained.
When she showed up to the party, Jarrett introduced himself to her—again.
“I must not have been as memorable to him in high school,” she joked.
“I thought she was very pretty,” said Jarrett. “We got along so well, and she just felt like my best friend immediately.”
But before they officially dated, they were friends first. They were paired as lab partners in Dr. Alla Barry’s A&P II class.
“I thought he was kind, polite, quiet, and funny,” said Lacy. “Ultimately, I was at the point where I really didn't want a boyfriend after just starting college and knowing I would be leaving for my doctorate program within a year and a half. We had the opportunity to truly get to know each other as friends for close to a year before I agreed to a date.”
But when they did start dating, they spent time involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), in the Lion’s Den, at a CAB-sponsored hypnotist show, and attending football games. But a memorable moment was when Lacy told Jarrett she was heading to the library to study, and he just so happened to be doing the same thing.
“I later discovered that he had never been to the library until that day,” she said.
“We went to the library more in one semester than I had been during my whole time on campus,” said Jarrett.
They were married on July 1st, 2017 in front of friends and family from MSSU like Lacy’s parents Walter and Angela Resa and brother Blake, who are integral parts of their support system.
After graduation, the Eppersons moved to Springfield while Lacy attended University of Missouri-Kansas City’s satellite campus. They later moved to Lamar before settling back in Joplin.
Now, Jarrett is a team lead at Walmart in Carthage, and Lacy is a pharmacist, serving as the director of clinical services at Mitchell’s Drug Stores in Neosho, a board member on the Missouri Pharmacy Association, and regional facilitator with the Missouri Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network. They have a two-year-old son, with their second due this June, and the sweetest dog who keeps them on their toes.
