Gary Shepard

1950 - 2025

Gary Shepard, 74, a lifelong resident of Alford, died March 18.

Born August 9, 1950, he was the son of Merrill and Beatrice (Scholz) Shepard. He attended local schools and graduated from UMass Amherst in 1973.

Gary often reflected that farming was a good way to use up a life. From an early age, he was his grandfather Henry's sidekick on the family dairy farm, which he took over in 1971 as the fourth generation. He was proud to carry it through the next fifty years.

He was rarely seen wearing anything other than his bib overalls and blue chambray shirt, a tractor hat on his head and a smile on his face.

Gary's great passion in life was tractors (specifically, red tractors). He had an encyclopedic knowledge of all things Farmall and enjoyed connecting with fellow Red Power buffs at tractor shows and equipment auctions. He spent his later years bringing his old tractors back to life with his friend Pete Cottini.

Gary was an indefatigable conversationalist who reveled in sharing yarns, folk wisdom, local lore, agricultural gossip, shrewd counsel, and commentary on current events. He was lucky to have many lifelong friends with whom he would spend hours on the telephone, discussing cows, crops, and (mostly) tractors.

He will be missed for his good nature, jovial sense of humor, and uncanny talent for generating a nickname for every person, animal, or machine that crossed his path.

He leaves his wife of 53 years, Bobbie, and their children Ruth, David, and Erin, all of Alford; a sister, Lynn Fitzgerald, and a nephew, Andrew Fitzgerald, both of Providence, R.I.; the Preiss family including sister-in-law Annette and nephews and nieces Kurt, Erik, Annika, Monika, and Katrina, all of Vermont; and the Miller family, including niece Linda of Connecticut and nephews Mark and David of New Hampshire.

There will be no funeral service, and burial will be private at a later date. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Alford Fire Department.