March 4, 1926 – January 10, 2019
Harold (Bert) Adelbert Shepperd was born in Portland, Oregon to parents Delbert and Lena Dean (Otto) Shepperd on March 4, 1926. Harold was an only child. Bert’s parents divorced when he was very young, and his Grandmother Otto took over his upbringing. Moving to Valencia in Southern California, Bert thrived under his grandmother’s care. While in California, Bert developed an early interest in many artistic pursuits, including drumming in a drum and bugle corps.
Bert and his grandmother returned to Portland when Bert was high-school age, and he attended Benson Polytechnic. At the same time, World War II was raging, and Bert decided he would enter the service before he was drafted. He signed up for the Navy and took advantage of his technical studies by training in the radioman school for Navy aircraft. Bert was eventually posted to PBY-Catalina flying boats as a radioman. His days on these planes became treasured memories for him.
Bert was very close to completing his training when the war ended. Upon his discharge from the Navy, he used his GI Bill to attend Lewis & Clark College to study art. While at Lewis & Clark, he went to a dance where he met his future wife Doris Swanson. Bert and Doris were married on August 29, 1952 in the home of their minister. They were blessed with two children – daughter Elizabeth “Beth” was born in 1953, and son Harold “Hal” was born in 1956.
Some of Bert’s jobs included: working at Sawyers (which became View Master), an ad salesman for the Oregon Journal, a pressman for The Oregonian, a professor of photography at Lewis & Clark College, and an instructor of graphics and printing at PCC Sylvania. Following Bert’s retirement from PCC, Bert and Doris purchased a fine art printing company and small print shop in Portland. Together they ran Agate Press for 10 years.
The two purchased a beach home on the Oregon coast in Oceanside in the mid-sixties. They were active members of their coastal community and they enjoyed many trips to the coast and cabin to recreate and recharge. They also served their community in Tigard as volunteers at their local library.
Bert was well known for his fantastical drawings that he would give to friends and strangers alike. He was fascinated by mountains, trees and waterfalls, and nearly all of these whimsical drawings included these three elements along with castles or cabins – often accompanied by a sly or silly title to commemorate the occasion of the gift. His drawings hang in doctors’ offices, restaurants, businesses and homes all over the northwest.
Bert is predeceased by Doris, his wife of 64 years. He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth “Beth” Johnston (Bob); son, Harold “Hal” (Susan) Shepperd; and grandchildren Colin Shepperd and Blair Shepperd.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.skylinememorialgardens.com for the Shepperd family.
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