Francis Junior Shepard

Junior was born June 22, 1929 in Trail Creek, Harrison, Missouri. Junior was the eldest of nine children by Lewis Francis and Dorothy Helen (Bears) Shepard. He had an eighth grade education and did odd jobs until entering the Air Force in 1948.

Junior retired from General Motors after 30 years of service; moved to Bethany, Missouri and built a home where he and Louise lived for 39 years. They opened an appliance business in 1987, and serviced the Harrison County area. He was a certified General Electric appliance repairman. He retired in 2011 after 24 years.

Junior always had a large garden and a greenhouse where he started his vegetable plants. He grafted trees, iris, and tomato plants. He was eco-friendly. His favorite flower was the iris. One year he put out an acre of iris in every color and the Republican Clipper had a story with pictures of the iris in bloom.

Junior spent a lot of time reading the Bible and attending the Church of Christ. He would sometimes give the sermon when the preacher was absent.

In November 2019, Junior move to Kansas City because of his health. Louise wanted to be closer to doctors and family. After several months, Junior admitted he liked his new home. Probably because he was able to visit with his family frequently.

He is survived by his wife Edna Louise, sons Larry (Danielle) Shepard of Kearney, MO and Gary (Sandy) Shepard of Derby, KS and daughter Connie (Dennis) Dover of League City, TX. Stepchildren, that were like his own, Rena Wade and Steven Ray Gaddis both Kansas City, MO. His sisters Phyllis Darlene Wine of Graham WA and Shirley Wheeler of Alma AL, brothers Donald (Beth) Shepard and Ronald (Pat) Shepard both Plattsburg, MO and Billy (Amy) of Grand Prairie, TX and many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Lewis and Dorothy Shepard, brother (infant), Everly Shepard, mother of his children Leatha Shepard, his daughter Dorothy Purdun and her husband Lawrence, sisters Mary Ann Morton and her husband Ray, Dorothy Louise Fitzpatrick and her husband Robert, brothers-in-laws Ray Wine and Jim Templeton, stepchildren Gary Gaddis, Michael Gaddis, and Linda Hamilton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Funeral services will take place at White Chapel Funeral Home, 6600 Antioch Rd., Gladstone, MO, on Friday, June 2, at 2:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dwnwhitechapel.com for the Shepard family.