Fred Eli Epeley was born in 1943 in Rutherford County and grew up in the Appalachian foothills of North Carolina.  the age of 18, Epeley showed up at Berea College and pled his case of need before the college dean. In 1961, Epeley started at Berea and graduated in 1965.  While at Berea, Epeley held a labor position with Public Relations and was a member of the Alpha Psi Omega Dramatic Fraternity.  Epeley went on to receive an MA from Appalachian State University and studied languages in Europe-becoming proficient in German, French, and Spanish. Epeley taught foreign languages for 30 years at both the high school and college levels in North Carolina. He also directed many dramatic productions at the schools he taught. He retired in 1995 to continue his travels. In 2014, Mr. Epeley published Growing Up in Ottie’s World.