Shepard Family Update, May 8, 2009

And so our mothers and grandmothers

have handed on the creative spark,
the seed of the flower
they themselves never hoped to see
-- or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read.- Alice Walker

Hello Shepard Family and Friends,

Greetings to all of you on this beautiful weekend of Mother's Day! This coming Thursday is the birthday of Jason Shepard of Fort Worth, Texas, the son of Gary Shepard and the 3rd Ggrandchild of Will and Bura Shepard.

Jason shares a birthday with his second cousin Courtney Boyd (pictured on the right) of Lakeside, California who turns 19 this coming Thursday. She is the daughter of Darren and Vicki Boyd and the 14th Ggrandchild of Will and Bura. I received a note from Courtney recently who said... I'm doing well, and my family is well too. Yes I'm still a waitress going on three years now. I go to Grossmont College in La Mesa Monday- Friday and I'm going to school to be a nurse... someday. :) For now I just plan on staying in school and working and seeing where life takes me.

May 14 also happens to be the birthday of Courtney's grandmother Thelma Shepard Boyd of Gallup, New Mexico. Many happy returns of the day to each of them!

This is Mother's Day weekend! I am sure I speak for others in our family in saying to all our mothers that we love and appreciate you very much. Some of the mothers we are thinking about this weekend are no longer with us, of course, and we remember them with great affection, and honor them for the many ways they "handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see."

I am including a photo presentation of the mothers of our family. Click on the link below to see the presentation, or if that does not work you can select this link.

Family Reunion Update: Plans for our Family Reunion July 18 continue to take shape. Dane Shepard, our host for the event, wrote me recently with some new details.

First of all, this will be a great opportunity to meet members of the family for the very first time or to see dear ones we haven't seen in a long time (too long for some). It will be wonderful to renew memories of the past together and make new ones for the future.

This may also possibly be the last opportunity to see some of our family due to age or distance. The major reason I volunteered to host the reunion was because of my dad, Elmer, who will be 91 this May, Lord willing. Since he can't travel any great distance because of his health, this is a way for him to see everyone while he's still able. Also, some of the Davises will be joining us. Since many of them do not live too far away, this will be a chance to connect with them.

Will there be any entertainment? Yes, indeed! Along with Steve's presentations and slide show, the Shepard Quartet (Dane, Cindy, Nathan, and Kaylan) will perform two numbers in the Latin and Blue Grass styles (how's that for variety?). Also, I will be presenting a slide show of the "lighter side" of the William and Bura Shepard branch of the family. Come and see the "real story" behind some of those old photos! You never know who might be featured so we'd love to see you in person and not just in the pictures! In addition, there will be a short movie I made in 1969-70 featuring friends and family members. Kim Clark will have a game or two for us to join in, so there will be plenty of fun.

As for the food, a local BBQ restaurant will provide a choice of brisket or chicken with sides. Plenty of deserts and drinks will be available too. I appreciate everyone giving thought to coming. For those who can't make it, we will certainly understand and remember them.

Be sure and let Kim or Dane if you will be attending the reunion so we can plan for food and other arrangements. We hope everyone can make it!
--
Steve