Jack Shepherd

1933 - 2011

Jack Edward Shepherd, 78, arrived in Terra Haute, Indiana as a 12 pound baby on July 4th, 1933 to the late Delbert and Martha (Blunk) Shepherd. He remained a big-hearted, active man until taken away by Alzheimer's Disease on Sept 21st. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sandra (Scott) Shepherd, and two brothers, John Shepherd of Hammond, Oregon and Jay Shepherd of Long Beach, Washington. He was preceded in death by a brother, Jim Shepherd in 1980. Also surviving are his 3 children: Scott and wife Darla of Jefferson, Oregon; Carl and wife Kim of Cheshire, Oregon; and Joyce of Springfield, Oregon. He has 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

At age fifteen he and a friend were the helmsmen on a LST on a trip to Japan to pick up frozen Tuna. The ship had been converted to a refrigeration ship for the Astoria, Oregon Bumble Bee factory. His brother, Jim worked in the engine room to help keep the big diesel engines running. The captain had a very young crew.

During the Korean conflict he joined the Navy and became a Machinist Mate on a Repair Ship which took him to several ports in Alaska, Hawaii and Japan. In Japan, he was able to visit his brother, Jim several times because Jim had been stationed there by the Air Force.

On September 28, 1957, he married Sandra Scott in Prineville, Oregon, whom he had met through Amateur Radio. They moved into a trailer and traveled like Gypsies, around Eastern Oregon to several towns wherever his work sent him as a lineman for the phone company.

Five years and 3 children later the phone company moved him to Springfield, Oregon where they purchased the home they have owned for almost 50 years. His employment changed in 1964 when he got his dream job in the Springfield Fire Department. His grandfather had been a Fireman in Indiana and Jack, who got to ride on horse-drawn fire equipment with Grandpa, must have been imprinted for life by that ride. Besides fighting fires he worked his way up to Communication Officer where he installed radios in Fire Trucks and built early Dispatch centers. Since he was truly a Jack-of-all trades he loved using his gifts to help his friends, his church, and others, and rarely accepted a payment other than a handshake.

His retirement in 1988 left him and Sandra free to volunteer full time at the Church camp at Triangle Lake for several years. Later they purchased a trailer and became Gypsies again, volunteering with the Mobile Missionary Assistance Program and traveling for 11 years around the U.S.A. while working at Camp and Conference Centers with many other Christians. His deep laugh and bear hugs are missed by family and friends. We can have joy that he is no longer enmeshed in the darkness of Alzheimer's, but is now in the light and joy of the presence of Jesus, our hope and our salvation.

A Memorial Service will be on Friday, Sept. 30th at 1:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1465 Coburg Rd., Eugene. Memorial Contributions can be made to the Eugene Alzheimer's Association or St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

Please sign the guest book at www.registerguard.com/legacy