Mary Reed Shepard

A lifelong partisan for social justice Passed away peacefully on July 17 surrounded by her family. A good and loyal wife, steadfast mother, and role model for her grandchildren and many others, she was 91. BornNovember 18, 1918 in New York City, the fourth daughter of Ruth and Lansing Reed, Mary graduated from St. Timothy's School and attended Vassar College before marryingRoger Shepard, Jr. in 1939. In 1946, she moved with Roger back to St. Paul, her husband's hometown. Mary was passionate about fairness and justice. Employing her considerable research and writing skills she fought against racial, gender, and economic discrimination, first through establishment party politics, then, with a band of like-minded women, beyond them. Within her own Episcopal Church she fought for the ordination of women. Radicalized by the Vietnam War, she became involved in the anti-warorganization Clergy and Laity Concerned and was an early supporter of Women Against Military Madness. In the late 1980's, frustrated by the established media's uncritical coverage of foreign policy, she became an advocate for the media watchdog group Fairness and Accuracy in Media. She traveled widely and served on the boards of Macalester College and the Episcopal Church Pension Fund, among many organizations with which she was involved. A lifelong crusader for the causes in which she believed, she never lost her wry sense of humor or her compassion for the disenfranchised. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Roger in 2004. She is survived by her daughter, Kay Shepard and sons, Lansing (Gayle), Whit (Andrea), and Tom (Wanda); six grandchildren and three great grandchildren and many, many nieces and nephews and their children. She will be missed tremendously. The family wishes to thank the staff of New Harmony Care Center for their caring and compassion. We are especially grateful to Deborah Kirchoff, Mary's long-time caregiver, for all the love and support she generously gave. A private service is planned, but donations may be made in Mary's memory to Women Against Military Madness, 310 East 38th Street, Suite 225 Minneapolis, MN 55409, or to Books to Brilliance, PO Box 56716, Albuquerque, NM 87187 or to a charity of one's choice. 678 South Snelling Avenue 651-698-3878