Ann Emily Hendershot Percival

In the early morning of December 3, 2023, Ann passed away peacefully in her home on Brays Island. Ann is survived by her cherished stepchildren; Kristin Tyng (and husband Chris), Mark Epker (and wife Erin), Alison Ruch (and husband Baird), and her seven grandchildren; Kylan, Ethan, Charlotte, Margaret, Edward, George and Henry.

Ann was preceded in death by her husband Russell Epker, her parents; Edith Cameron and Isaac Bryce Hendershot of Newton, Iowa, and her brother, Cameron Hendershot of Evanston, Illinois, and his wife Marilyn Feldman Hendershot.

Through her final days, Ann lived a life guided by heart, humor, honesty, and gratitude, and all were blessed to have experienced her sense of humor, spirit of adventure, authenticity, and love of family and friends.

Ann grew up in Newton, Iowa, and after graduating from the University of Iowa she made her way to the East Coast where she lived first in New York City while working in fashion and home goods, and then in Boston, MA where she established and ran, Ann Percival & Associates, a business focused on the home goods industries. She lived in Newton, MA and Boston, MA for many years and was an active part of those communities. She served on the Board of the New England Aquarium, and was deeply involved in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, as well as the United South End Settlement’s Camp Hale on Squam Lake in New Hampshire where she and Russ spent their summers.

Ann also enjoyed spending time in Charleston, S.C. where she made many friends, inspiring her to purchase a lovely carriage house right downtown. She and Russ spent many long weekends and vacations exploring the vibrant city. They enjoyed the local arts scene, especially the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, before ultimately she and Russ built a home nearby in the Low Country and settled at Brays Island, S.C. eventually dividing their time between there and Squam Lake N.H..

At Brays, Ann could be found walking her dogs, riding horses, gardening, reading, and enjoying long and laughter-filled dinners with good friends. While making their home at Brays Island, Ann and Russ became involved in the local Sheldon and Beaufort communities, including an expansion of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Low Country, as well as many other civic and conservation organizations.

Ann was a voracious reader and an avid adventurer. She began traveling the world as a young adult on a shoestring, and continued her explorations throughout her entire lifetime. She and Russ enjoyed their many travels together and the friends that they met along the way. After Russ’ death, Ann ultimately achieved her goal of visiting every continent on the globe by making the incredible trek to Antarctica.

One of Ann’s greatest joys was to entertain friends and family in her home. She dressed her dogs in silly costumes for her dinner parties (way before it was fashionable), and when she was excited she could often be heard enthusiastically saying, “OOO LA LA!”. We will miss Ann’s spirit, the joy she brought to our lives and most definitely her “OOOH LA LA!”.

The family extends special thanks to the incredible caregiving team who helped Ann to enjoy many years in her home after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. Funeral and burial will be private. For condolence information, please call the Anderson Funeral Home at 843-524-7144, https://andersonfhsc.com/.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made directly to Camp Hale, c/o United South End Settlements, 48 Rutland Street, Boston, MA 02118 (https://www.uses.org/) or The Boys and Girls Clubs of The Low Country, 10 Pinckney Colony Road, Bluffton, SC 29909, https://www.bgclowcountry.org/.

Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.