Jay William Shepard

Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Arlington. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.

Memorials: A cancer charity of choice, in lieu of flowers.

Jay was born July 15, 1976, in Fort Huachuca, Ariz., the second son of Buddy and Jean Shepard. In 1982, the family moved to Killeen, where Jay attended Killeen schools and graduated from Killeen High School in 1995. He attended Sam Houston State University, where rugby became a significant part of his life. He graduated from SHSU with a bachelor of science in business administration. He was highly respected and successfully employed by the Fort Worth Weekly, Mooring Recovery, Blackmon Mooring, and Gulf Coast Steamatic. Jay was a rugby legend and played with many teams, including the Sam Houston Rugby Team, The Woodlands, Fort Worth Rugby Club, The Dallas Harlequins, The Austin Blacks and the Elite 7's. Through all of this, he bravely survived Hodgkin's lymphoma.

One of the great joys of his life was his son, Cody. He was also extremely proud of being Uncle Jay to Aubrey, Aiden and Addison. He enjoyed life to the fullest. He was a great friend to all who knew him and had a wonderful sense of humor and a free spirit that no one will forget. All who knew him have proclaimed that they are better persons for having known him. His warm and beautiful smile will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, A.D. and Ruby Shepard and Rose and Bill Hill.

Survivors: Parents, Buddy and Jean Shepard; son, Cody Ferguson; brother, Dee Shepard and his wife, Heather; nephews, Aubrey and Aiden; niece, Addison; several aunts, uncles and cousins; and his many friends.