Hugh Shepherd

1938 - 2023

Hugh Shepherd
Baldwin, MI
July 2, 1938 - May 7, 2023
Hugh Richards Shepherd, 84, died Sunday morning May 7, 2023, at a Muskegon hospital in the presence of family.
Born July 2, 1938, in Adrian, Michigan, son of the late Carmel Ilena (Torrey) and Edgar Hugh Shepherd. Hugh was a 1956 graduate of Adrian High School. He loved athletics which earned him a scholarship to Western Michigan College. He did his student teaching under Mr. Brail at Muskegon Central High School. At the end of that time, Mr. Max Brail, the superintendent of Baldwin Public Schools and father of Mr. Brail, offered him his first teaching and coaching job. There he taught and coached for 3 years where he met his future wife, Barbara (Duffing) Drown. In 1964, Hugh and Barbara were married on February 15th and would spend 52 years together before Barbara passes away from colon cancer.
For a brief period, he taught at Ubly Public Schools and then was hired at Benzie Central Schools where he would teach until 1988. He received his Master's from Central Michigan University and became principal for Arenac Eastern Schools. In December 1989, because of the history of heart disease in his family, he decided to retire and become a licensed contractor. Hugh and Barb purchased a security agency called Tri-County Patrol, Inc. They ran this business until 2009.
In 1965, they purchased the Dairy Queen in Baldwin, and he and Barbara ran that successfully for 18 years when they sold it in 1983. It was difficult for the family since Barbara lived in Baldwin while the Dairy Queen was open, but Hugh packed up the family after the weekends and headed north for the school year. Summers were spent at Gifford Lake where Hugh and his good friend Wayne Thom built their home.
Hugh didn't let the grass grow under his feet. He was an avid sports fan, coach, volunteer, and mentor. He was a member of Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club for 44 years, serving as president 3 times. He coached basketball and football at different schools, and even coached his daughter's eighth grade basketball team so that they were able to have a team. He and Barbara also attended the Lutheran church regularly and volunteered on many committees. While teaching in Baldwin, he worked part-time in Sedlecky's Sport Shop where he was able to indulge in his love for hunting and fishing which he carried on for many years. Hugh even suffered a broken nose in later years while hunting just to get that deer! Many years he traveled to Montana and hunted with a family he met out there for the antelope, mule deer, and elk.
When Hugh finally decided to retire, for the most part, he and Barb traveled to Arizona to look around. They decided to buy a place in Holiday Palms in Mesa, Arizona. There they spent their winters and came back to Benzonia for the summers. Unfortunately, Hugh's health wasn't cooperative and he started fighting the battle with his heart.
After Barbara lost her battle with cancer, Hugh and Christine Grubb found each other. They knew each other in high school and reconnected. After a short time, they decided to live together in Florida. Hugh sold his home in Arizona and moved to Florida. In 2018, Hugh and Chris moved to California. After another medical incident, his family moved him back to Michigan to care for him personally. He is preceded in death by his wife Barbara Shepherd, parents Carmel and Edgar Shepherd, grandson Mitchell Shepherd Cox, sons-in-law Robert Zoellner and Clarence Koontz.
Survivors include his children Kelly Zoellner of Baldwin, MI; Rae Shepherd of Newberry, MI; and Andrea (Robert) Black of Wyoming, MI. Grandsons Travis (Rachel) Stein of Maple City, MI; Jamison Cox, of Leslie, MI; and Michael (Mandy) Rockey of Allegan, MI. With one granddaughter, Mary (Mark) Brink of Allegan, MI. And his second love Christine Grubb, and her son Ed (Molly) Grubb; daughter Heidi (Brian) Grubb-McClemens.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Hugh will be held at noon on July 1st, 2023, at Baldwin Assembly of God in Baldwin, with a luncheon to follow. Graveside service will be scheduled later to reunite Hugh and Barb.
You may honor Hugh with donations to the Lake County Sportsman's Club.