My Daddy

"My Daddy"

God blessed me with a wonderful earthly Daddy. He loved the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength and his neighbor as himself. He and Momma taught their 6 children by example how to love Jesus and others. They always pointed us to Jesus and each of us have trusted Christ as our personal Saviour. He was the Spiritual leader of our home - leading us in family devotions, prayer, singing, and making sure we were in God's house. He exercised his spiritual gift of being a servant - always helping others and loving them.

My Daddy had a great sense of humor too. He had a big, hearty laugh and would come up with witty, funny sayings. His cheerful spirit was a blessing to all. You never heard him complain about anything.

Daddy loved to work. He could out-work anyone. He would say you can't get something for nothing and you need to earn your keep. If you start something, finish it.

There will be a huge void in our family. I love you, Daddy, and I'll miss you, Daddy, but I know I will see you again when God calls me home too.

Joyce Marilane

(the youngest)

Our Thoughts Are With You

There are certain thoughts and feelings that mere words can not impart, that can find expression only in the language of the heart.

Mr Shepherd was so kind to my sister when she was living on the same street (60th). He would scrape snow and ice off her car window during the winter. My sister was LaRee Reed - she has passed also and I miss her everyday.

May God Bless all the loved ones Mr Shepherd left behind.

Sherry Kelly

From Bob and Pat Williams

James O. Shepherd

Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with the Shepherd family in this time of loss. He will certainly be missed here in our church. He was a great Christian and one of the best examples in this day and time of what Jesus was like.

I remember when our son Chad was out in sin. There were a lot of people praying for him but brother Shepherd put feet to his prayers. Many times he would stop by the house and ask if Chad was home. He would come in and tell him he loved him and was praying for him. He would also drop by his place of work on occasion to talk with him. I believe Chad's decision to follow Christ was largely because of the persistence of James Shepherd.

I also remember a "work and witness" trip I went on with brother Shepherd about 5 or 6 years ago to Hollis, OK. We went there to help build a church in the middle of the summer when temperatures were in excess of 100 degrees. James Shepherd was out in the hot sun swinging a sledgehammer. When us younger guys would stop for a break we had a hard time getting him to leave his work. He was a hard worker but he enjoyed life. I remember on that trip how he would get up early in the morning and go for a walk, come back, and tell us all the interesting things he saw.

Our loss is Heaven's gain and I am sure James Shepherd is already some special rewards for his service here on earth.

Bob and Pat Williams

Every memory I have of Grandpa he always had a smile on his face, always laughing or singing. When we were younger I always remember Grandpa being so eager to take us kids to the park or for a ride in, or in the back of his El camino - he had rigged up some seat belts for us back there. :) I just remember thinking that was the greatest.
Whenever Grandpa came to visit us, after our morning family devotions he would always start singing, I looked forward to those moments and cherish ever one of them.
I am so proud to say that James Shepherd was my Grandpa. It is so evident to me, and to so many, that he loved the Lord, and what an example of that he displayed in his life. Thank you Grandpa.

With all my love,
Laura

Dad Shepherd

When I think of the man I called Dad Shepherd/Grandpa/Roger's dad, there are a thousand vignettes. Dad performing our wedding ceremony over forty years ago when I married into the clan. Grandpa holding our children as they were dedicated to the Lord. Grandpa tearing up whenever we reminisced about Grandma. Grandpa breaking into song at the drop of a hat--and always a song that brought honor and praise to the Lord. Grandpa riding a bike with a grandchild at 75 years of age. Grandpa getting one of the grandbabies dressed and putting her clothes on backwards and neither one of them knowing or caring. Grandpa being the first to help when someone was in need, whether you needed your roof fixed or a tire changed or the dishes washed. And, Grandpa praying. Both Grandma and Grandpa had the incredible ability to usher you into the presence of the Lord. Even at the last, when he wasn't always sure where his room was in the house, if you called on him to pray, he instantly was talking to his Father in tones of tenderness and confidence.

When I told one of my friends who had only met Grandpa one time, that he had gone on Home, his words to me were, "We have lost a warrior. It makes me even more determined to fight the good fight."

What a legacy this good man has left behind him. I look forward to Heaven when I will get to spend eternity getting to know him in all the ways I did not get to here on earth.

We are a blessed family.

Carol

Grandpa

Grandpa had a gift for just being with you, and that meant a lot to me. He had all the time in the world. He didn’t have any kind of busy agenda or anything. He had nowhere else to be, nothing else to do. He’d tag along with you wherever you were going or just pull up a chair and sit next to you, and you knew he wasn’t just killing time or anxious to get on to the next thing; he was where he wanted to be. He didn’t even have to say much. Him just sitting there next to you communicated so much. Whenever he would come to Florida to visit, he’d go places with me. I took him to theatre classes at college; I remember he got a big kick out of the way my theatre professor Mark bantered with his students; Mark could cut you down so ruthlessly that it was funny and it made Grandpa laugh and laugh! I took him to church. I even took him to rehearsal for one of my plays at the Shakespeare Festival. The acoustics in the rehearsal hall were terrible, so Grandpa couldn’t hear much, but he sat and watched for an hour or more. Every time I took Grandpa to the theatre, my theatre friends just ate him up. They liked him a lot. And he liked them too. It meant so much to me that he would even want to enter my world, not to make any comment on it or to try to change it or improve it, just to be there. It meant a lot to me that he wanted to tag along with me. It made me feel loved. I love you, too, Grandpa. I’m going to miss you a lot.

-Mindy

Grandpa

At our wedding three weeks ago, it was incredible to see the many people from all the different times and walks of our lives come together and celebrate in one place. It was so special to have Grandpa there to not only share in the event of our wedding but say a prayer and give his blessing on our marriage. Throughout my life there has always been something so moving to me about Grandpa's prayers. They were strong and sincere. We were truly blessed to have him be part of our special day and we know in our hearts that his amazing legacy will continue to grow in the new family that we began that day.

Susan

Grandpa

Thanking God for the memory of a great guy I called "Grandpa". He truly led by example. He enjoyed and lived life to the fullest. He didn't know a stranger. He was always willing to lend a helping hand. He never complained. He prayed hard, sang loud, laughed a lot, cried a little, cared a bunch, and loved unconditionally! He made everyone feel special!

I'll never forget the time Grandpa and I had devotions and prayer when I was around ten living in Severy KS. Seeing his passion for God's word and the purity of his prayers will leave a lasting impression on me. He truly had the joy of the Lord.

My dad brought to memory the time we were visiting Grandpa and Grandma in OK. We all decided to go fishing. The wind was blowing pretty good that day, and after sometime, several had caught some fish, but I hadn't. I was fishing on the opposite side of the lake from everyone else. I was getting a little discouraged, and Grandpa took notice. Grandpa made his way over to where I was and said, "let's pray". Grandpa prayed that I would catch a fish, and in a short time I did catch one. I knew the catch had to be an answer to prayer, because the fish I caught had gotten hooked by the gill. I believe God put that fish on the hook for me as a result of Grandpa's prayer. This is just one example of many that could be given showing the faith and concern that Grandpa had.

Grandpa had a BIG HEART and the reason he did was the presence of the Lord in it. To God be the glory! I'll miss you Grandpa!

Love Dave

Grandpa

I really thought you were great

So great that I had eight
Each child was blessed by you
And one of them has your name
With hopes that he will be the same
And follow Christ and love as you
And reach out to others each day too
To give such joy you were so good at
Your hundredth descendant is my red-head Matt
Thank you, Grandpa, for your smile
And now there are eight which made it worthwhile
To follow your lead in all their trials
And be reunited with you in Heaven.
What a day that will be!

by Joanna Shepherd

About Dad

I had the privilege of caring for Dad the last 11 months of his life. He had his limitations, confusions, frustrations but he never once complained. He laughed a lot, sang hymns and choruses, read his Bible faithfully, enjoyed being around his family. He would ride with Mac to deliver hay and do errands. He would go with us to our grandkids ballgames and celebrate their birthdays. When he first came to stay with us, one of our sons was running for the State Senate so he was in quite a few parades and went with Mac to put up signs. He went to the State Capital for the swearing in. Two years ago he had climbed all the way to the top of the dome, 239 steps, the oldest person by 10 years to do it. So he thought he could do it again this time. He made it 90 steps, probably could have made it further if he had more time to rest in between. He would always count the stair steps he climbed whether it was at church or just going down the basement. That was in January after his open heart surgery in October. He loved to sit out on the porch and would sometimes sit out there until after dark. He loved popcorn so porch and popcorn went together. He liked candy and peanuts so I would keep some in his room for him. My sister Sheryl is buried in our family cemetery on our property and I keep a path mowed out to it about 1/2 mile from our house. Dad would say he should walk out there so I would get him pointed in the right direction and he would make it part way. Once when I walked with him, he made it all the way slowly, then I walked back and got the truck and went and picked him up. One of the special times he had was to baptize his great grandson Rowdy. One of our son's father-in-law took him up in his airplane. He always enjoyed flying. He loved to sing. In the evenings I would sit down at the piano and just start playing through the hymns and he would sing along. He still knew most of the words. He had his special sayings that he would repeat often. Some of those are: "fine as a frogs hair but I've never seen one; it's not what you know but Who you know and I know Him; you never know what a day will bring forth; it's a great life if you don't weaken and I'm getting weaker; my stepdad always said say something even though it doesn't sound smart"; and when you would say "Oh man or Oh boy, he would say "you talking about me" thinking we had said 'old man'. He talked about how he used to throw horse shoes and how to make a ringer. He thought he could still do it so our son made him a horse shoe box but I guess he never did have the energy to try it. When he had his open heart surgery, the surgeon said he had the insides of a man in his 60's. He recovered very well. His cardiologist was always amazed at how good he was for his age. He didn't look his age outside or inside. He had just had a test to check for a clogged artery in his neck and there was none. His PCP said medically with all the tests that had been run on him, he did not have the signs for a stroke like he had. We had just returned from a trip to FL to his granddaughters wedding. He did very well, even impressed the stewardess on the plane. I had just taken him to the eye doctor to get him new glasses the day before his stroke and the doctor said the vessels and all in his eyes looked good. But it was God's timing. God had his mansion ready and wanted to welcome His good and faithful servant to his new Home.; I am so thankful for the godly legacy he left us his family. His prayers, singing, laughter, positive outlook will never be forgotten.

-Fonda

Here's what I sent to my associates the evening Dad died:
“I want to go home.” These were the last intelligible words my father spoke after his stroke last Wednesday. Today at 6:25 pm, God and a heavenly host that included my mother and brother and sister and nephew and many other dear friends and family welcomed him home. Dad leaves behind over 100 in the Shepherd clan. All who are of age are walking with Jesus and looking forward to joining him. Our prayer continues to be for an unbroken family circle for all eternity. Join with us in much praise to God for a long life well lived, many lessons and precious memories passed on, and many souls won to Christ through his life and ministry. I’m sure he’s hearing the most precious words anyone can hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Dad was 91.

Like many, the way that Grandpa impacted me the most was through his prayers. Grandpa loved the Lord Jesus sincerely from the heart, and his prayers flowed from the depths of his soul, constantly manifesting a recognition of the complete dependence of a sinner upon the grace of his Savior. His prayers taught me to depend on Christ, that spiritual strength begins with a humble acknowledgment of human weakness, and that the insufficiency of man finds its solution in the all-sufficiency of Christ.

I found out about Grandpa's homegoing just a few hours after a meeting with a group of radical M-usl ims during a ministry trip with our students to a region a few hundred kilometers from Odessa. In this meeting, one of their leaders confided in me how heavy the burden of their religion is for them, how it brings them so many problems but no joy, and how relieved they would be if they could be convinced that this terrible burden had not been imposed upon them by a god whom they believe to be "both good and evil." What a contrast it was so soon after this meeting, to hear that Grandpa was already experiencing the fulfillment of all the promises made by our Lord Jesus, who said, "MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light." When I got the news, I could not help but rejoice, for there was at that moment such a striking contrast between light and darkness; between grace and works; between freedom and slavery; and most of all--between repetious prayers from an unwilling heart addressed to a vengeful and arbitrary god, and Grandpa's prayers spoken from a loving heart to his "Abba-Father." How precious the gospel is!

Grandpa's life was not easy, and he experienced many trials and tribulations, but through it all he walked with God, found strength and joy in the arms of his Heavenly Father, and left a legacy of faith that this world so desperately needs. May Jesus Christ be praised for completing the work that He began in Grandpa so many years ago, and may we all be faithful to follow in his footsteps so that his legacy of faith may be passed on to our children and the perishing souls all around us.

The Shepherd Reunion has already begun, and Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Drew, and Uncle Ron are already celebrating. May the rest of us be faithful until we arrive.

-Bret

Thank you so much for your prayers during this time of remembering Dad/Grandpa and giving tribute to the tremendous legacy he left us. We give all praise to God for His amazing grace and abundant mercy. We will miss Dad very much, but we are celebrating with the angels and the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ who are welcoming him HOME.

We are excited about donations going to In His Name Ministries instead of flowers. Flowers fade quickly but this ministry is impacting eternity. This is a ministry that we believe epitomizes what Dad tried to live out in his life with his gifts of helps and mercy, always reaching out to help someone else. He was often late getting to appointments and places due to someone needing help along the way. We praise God for his example of love and faithfulness and humility and joyful praise and worship.

The Shepherd Clan

Services

Tuesday, August 11, 6-8 pm.

Viewing at Lamb Funeral Home

120 N. Main St., Whitewater, KS

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Saturday, August 15, 10am-noon

Viewing at Calvary Church of the Nazarene

3100 N. Rockwell, Bethany, OK
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Saturday, August 15, 3:00 pm
Memorial Service at Calvary Church of the Nazarene

3100 N. Rockwell, Bethany, OK

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PO Box 1731

Duncan, OK 73534

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Your Contributions

We are asking folks to consider donating to a ministry in Bethany, OK instead of sending flowers. That ministry is In His Name Ministry.

The website is http://www.inhisname.org/.

Please indicate "in memory of James Shepherd" on the memo line.