Margaret Atkinson

Margaret Shepard “Shep” Atkinson passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 14, 2012 at the age of 93 at her home, her son and daughter-in-law and two granddaughters were at her bedside. Born on July 12, 1919 to Pearl LaMotte and James Curlee Shepard in Darlington, South Carolina she was the youngest of three children. She married Julian Haliczer in 1939. They had a daughter, Regina, a year later and moved to Florida, Julian’s home. The couple had several businesses and in the early 1950’s found their niche as wholesale florists buying flower directly from the many local farmers in Naples-Fort Myers area. Their son, James Solomon, was born in 1952 and Julian died four years later. Shep ran the business successfully until she sold it after marrying Kendall S Atkinson Jr., a father of five. She worked with him in their construction business until he died in 1988. Shep loved her brothers, the Rev. John J. Shepard and Louis R. Shepard, both of whom predeceased her. She enjoyed regaling her family with the stories of their childhood. Shep was fascinated by the Civil War having been introduced to its history by her great grandmother with whom she lived as a little girl and who had been an eyewitness to the war. Shep leaves behind an impressive collection of Civil War text and histories. Shep was 60 plus year member of the First United Methodist Church of Fort Myers to which she was devoted. She served the church in many ways both officially and informally. Shep spent her last decade at the Covenant Village of Florida where she was actively involved with the community, a community which came to her side when her daughter Regina “Gina” passed away from cancer in 2005. Shep is survived byher son James S. Haliczer, daughter-in-law, Paula, and her grandson James Jr. “Jay” of Ft. Lauderdale; her granddaughters Jill Ann Sabine and her husband, Brian, of West Palm Beach and Meg Elizabeth Eachus and her two children, Shep great grandchildren, Jacob and Allison, of Boynton Beach, FL. She is also survived by Kendall’s children, Rebecca Cooley of California, Katherine Kelly and her husband Michael of Cape Coral, Fl and their three children, Brian, Eric, and Melissa and their spouses and children, Mary Jane Walker and her husband Michael of Lutz, FL, Leslie Pillon of Ft. Myers Beach, FL her children Erin, Elizabeth and Gregory and their children and Kendall S. Atkinson, III and his partner Michael Pineau of Ft. Myers, FL. There will be a graveside service at The Memorial Gardens in Fort Myers. In lieu of flowers donation can be made to First United Methodist Church of Fort Myers 2466 First Street, Fort Myers, FL, 33901.