Mary Lou Sheppard

Mary Lou Sheppard died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 94 on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at Spring Arbor of Winchester, VA. Known by most as Mary (she was never a big fan of Mary Lou!) she was predeceased by father James Marshall Ennis of Terry, West Virginia, mother Margaret Ennis Gurack, husband Russell Allen Sheppard, and brother Jim Ennis, all of Hampton, Virginia, and great-grandson Wyatt Sheppard Keeler of Winchester, VA.

Mary was born on April 29, 1931 in Terry, West Virginia, the second of three children, along with older brother Jim Ennis and younger brother Bill Gurack. After her family moved from Terry to Mabscott, WV, she met the young man next door who was home on leave from Fort Eustis, Va. After a two-year courtship Allen and Mary, both 19, were married in Beckley, WV on July 8, 1950.

Mary & Allen’s union produced two children, Janet Sheppard Brady, retired and living in Naples, Florida, and Bruce Sheppard (wife Joanne) of Winchester, Va. Mary began her professional career once both children were in school. Starting first as a sales associate for JC Penny’s, she soon moved on as Payroll Clerk for Mason’s Retail Department Store for 10 years, then moved into banking, becoming Head Teller first for Jefferson Bank, and after a three year stint heading up Accounts payable for Bendix Corporation, she returned to banking as Head Teller with United Virginia before retiring in 1994.

Mary was known for her strong work ethic, wonderful smile, and her brilliant blue eyes which lit up a room- even in her last few years in memory care at Spring Arbor. She especially enjoyed tending to her flower gardens and spent numerous hours landscaping her yard in their Hampton home of 58 years. She loved to bake, and boy, could she put on a delicious spread at Thanksgiving for her family! Beyond the sense of pride that she had for being married to Allen for 71 years, nothing made her prouder than seeing or sharing stories and pictures of the successes of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren!

Aside from her two children, Mary is survived by granddaughter Kailey Sheppard Keeler and great-grandsons Carson and Cash Keeler, grandson Logan Sheppard (wife Sarah) and great- grandchildren Blake, Connor and Nora Sheppard, and granddaughter Seneca Sheppard Sowers (husband Nate) and great-grandchildren Ada Jo and Tate Sowers, along with several nieces and nephews.

Mary will be buried alongside her husband in a private family service on January 9, 2026, in Hampton. A celebration of Mary’s life will be held in Winchester, to be announced at a later date. Our family will be forever grateful to the supportive staff of Spring Arbor (especially Tara, Leslie, and Dakota), and Blue Ridge Hospice (especially Nurse Katie), both of which provided incredible personal and professional care and compassion for Mary in her final years.