Ruth Shepard

Ruth E. Shepard, age 85, of Kansas City, MO died of complications from a hip fracture and Alzheimer’s on Sunday, September 19 at NorthCare Hospice in North Kansas City, MO. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1995. Visitation will be held from 12:00-2:00 PM Saturday, October 2nd at McGilley Antioch Chapel. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 PM. Burial will be at Mt. Washington Cemetery.

Ruth was born on January 1, 1925, in Kansas City, MO, and was adopted by Thomas and Maude (Trowbridge) Keegan in May 1925. Thomas died in 1926 and Maud and Ruth moved from KC to Dennis, KS, in 1932, where Maude was married to Norval Dean. Ruth attended elementary and high school in Dennis.

Ruth married Orville A. Shepard In November 1945, in Parsons, KS and they had three children, Richard, Marjorie and Virginia. Ruth work 26 years for the US Post Office and retired in 1985. She started work as a mail sorter and advanced to Maintenance Control Technician.

Ruth loved music, including “Hey Jude” by the Beatles and anything by Marty Robbins or Gary Morris. She also held strong beliefs about fairness and equality and was a quiet but constant advocate of economic and social equity. Those who interpreted her quietness as weakness did so at their peril.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Orville (in 1982) and son Richard (in 1996). She is survived by daughters (and their spouses) Marjorie Shelley (Thomas Omer) of College Station, TX;Virginia(Ginny) Boyd (Gary) of Kearney, MO, and by her grandchildren: Stephen (Steve) Boyd (Rebecca (Becky)) of Plattsburg, MO, John Shelley (Cynthia Jones) of Austin, TX., Jeri (Omer) & Chad Deakin of St.Louis, MO, Jennifer (Omer) & John Knierim of Champaign, IL. She also leaves great-grandchildren, Austin and Addison Boyd, Payton, Logan, Paige and Haley Deakin, Madison Omer, Clayton, Parker and Garrett Knierim.