Gene Coyner Shepherd

Gene Coyner Shepherd peacefully passed to be with Lord on November 6, 2020, at the age of 94. She was born in Gordonsville, Virginia, on December 7, 1925, to her beloved parents, E. Harper Coyner and Ruth McClure Coyner. Gene was preceded in death by her loving parents and husband, George W. Shepherd, Jr.; and her beloved sister and brother-in-law, Carleise Coyner Walker and Dr. John B. Walker. She is survived by her loving sister and brother-in-law, Gwen Coyner Beck and Grady Beck; and her beloved daughter and son-in-law, Brenda Shepherd Moore and Richard Moore; and loving son, George W. (Billy) Shepherd, III. Gene is also survived by her six treasured grandchildren, Ryan Moore (Cherie) and Justin Moore and Henry, Sam, Maude and Emma Shepherd; and her five cherished great-grandchildren, Emmeline, Madison, Lance, Alex and Ava Moore; and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Gene grew up in Virginia and North Carolina and studied music at the Richmond Professional Institute of the College of William and Mary and played organ at her church. She married George W. Shepherd, Jr. on May 17, 1947, and then had their daughter in Richmomd. The family moved to New Orleans in 1952 and their son was born there in 1960. The family would spend each summer in North Carolina with their extended family, where cousins became best friends; including many wonderful times at a family cottage at White Lake. She called North Carolina “God’s Country.” Everything Gene did revolved around family. She loved watching her son, Billy, play basketball at Country Day, all the way to winning State one year; and watching her grandsons, Ryan and Justin, play sports at Carrollton Boosters and then at Country Day. She became an avid sports fan, especially the Saints – she was at the first game at Tulane Stadium and never missed a game. In her later years, she enjoyed watching sports on TV and loved discussing it with her grandsons and great-grandsons. Gene adored her great-grandchildren and loved spending time with them and hearing all about their adventures. She was a member of Metairie Country Club and enjoyed lunch there almost every day until her later years. She attended Munholland United Methodist Church. The highlight of her week was attending Sunday Service and listening to Munholland’s incredible organ player and wonderful service music, and then going to brunch at Metairie Country Club. Gene will be remembered as a loving, kind and giving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. She will always be loved and dearly missed and in the hearts of her family.

Due to COVID, a private service for immediate family only was held a Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home with burial at All Saints Mausoleum alongside her beloved husband.

A remembrance service will be held at a later date to celebrate Gene’s life.

Donations preferred to Munholland United Methodist Church, 1201 Metairie Road, Metairie, LA 70005.