Jim W. Shepherd

Jim W. Shepherd, 82 of Fort Smith, passed away Monday, February 9, 2015. He was born January 19, 1933 in Poteau, OK to the late Ella Gertrude and Jimmy Shepherd. Jim was a member of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a US Army Veteran of the Korean War, The American Legion, A Mason, a member of the Fort Smith River Blenders Barbershop Chorus, and a volunteer for the Children’s Emergency Shelter for which he received the Volunteer of the Year in 2002. He was preceded in death by his wife Shirley Shepherd.

Funeral Services will be 9:00 AM Thursday, February 12, 2015 at Fentress Mortuary Chapel with burial and military honors to follow at the Fort Smith National Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Fentress Mortuary.

Jim is survived by his daughter; Donna Helmer and her husband Ricky, Sr. of Ft. Smith, two Sons; Barry Shepherd and his wife Shirley of Greenwood and David Craig and his wife Dana of Ft. Smith; two half-sisters Wanda Faye McBride of Tulsa, OK, and Velia Ann Thompson of Poteau, OK and three half-brothers; Dewey “Butch”, Donald, and Wendell Shepherd. Jim is also survived by six grandchildren; Lauren Craig, Erin Craig, Shawna Shepherd, Adam Shepherd, Matthew Shepherd, and Ricky Helmer, Jr. as well as several Great Grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Harold Morris, Darrell Larson, Ricky Helmer, Jr., Larry Clemmer, Adam Shepherd, and Matthew Shepherd.

Visitation will be 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Humane Society of Sebastian County PO Box 10953 Ft. Smith, AR 72913.