Shepard Family Update, Mar 7

Dear Family members and Friends,

I hope that everyone is doing well as we make our way into March. The family reunion on July 19, in Anacortes, Washington is only about 4 months away! A tentative list of those who will attend include: Maida, Barbara, Gary and Cindy, Kerri, Mandy and Lyndsay, Kelly and Nathaniel, Steve and Cindy and Nathan, Russ and Pam, Steven Paul and Linda, Thelma and Kim, Shannon and Emma, Darrell and his family, and Jerry and Cathrina. It will be quite a group. We hope YOU will be there!

Fascinating Family Fact: Did you know? Our Shepard family reflects a strong, historical connection to the Churches of Christ? Not all our family members share that affiliation, but many do. At least 6 generations of Church of Christ members can be found within our family. This connection can be traced back through Bura Davis Shepard (1896-1986), whose parents AND paternal grandparents were Church of Christ members. This family affiliation goes back at least 150 years to the mid 1800s, the early years of what is called "the Restoration Movement". That is an American religious movement which actually gave birth to three present-day groups: the Churches of Christ, the Independent Christian Church, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)).

Several years ago when my Dad and I visited the Church of Christ in Spencer, Indiana, we found the 1910 baptismal record for Bura Davis who was born in Spencer and was 14 when baptized. Just 5 years later -- after her family had moved to Beaver County, Oklahoma -- she married William Shepard. The South Flat Church of Christ near Elmwood in Beaver County was the church home for several of our family for many years (and perhaps still is today), and was where my Dad (and possibly his siblings) were baptized. When the family migrated to San Diego in 1940, the El Cajon Blvd Church of Christ became the church home for many of them for several decades.

Family Faces. I am including two family pictures (click on the pictures to enlarge them.). The first is from 1951 and shows Will and Bura Shepard and 5 of their 6 grandchildren at the time. (The only other grandchild was Rex Russell.) In the picture from left to right are: Beverly, Dane (being held by Bev), Gary, Gram holding Linda, and me, in Grandad's shadow. The picture was taken in front of their home not far from the El Cajon Blvd Church of Christ in San Diego. Sundays were often a time for grandparents, parents, and children to be together at church and afterwards. This may have been one such occasion. (I cannot remember any other reason for Grandad to be wearing a tie! Can you?)

The other is a picture of part of the Anacortes clan, taken last summer. It shows Russ and Pam Shepard and their children Linda and Steven. If you compare the pictures it is uncanny how similar are the smiles of Russ and his grandfather William Shepard (the hairlines are striking similar as well!) This second picture was taken on Orcas Island, one of the beautiful vacation spots in the San Juan Islands. Anacortes is the ferry stop known as "The Gateway to the San Juans." If you will be attending the reunion this summer, these islands are a wonderful place to visit.

Happy Birthday this coming week to Russell and Steven Paul Shepard, father and son, both born on March 13 (28 years apart!).
--
Steve

[P.S.... If you know of other family members or friends who would like to receive these messages, please ask them to send me an email at shepard@sierrawebworks.com -- or give me their email addresses -- and I will include them on the email list. If you have their physical address, please send that to me as well and I will make sure they receive an invitation to the reunion by US Mail. Also, please let me know if you would rather I use a different email address for you, or if you would prefer NOT to receive these emails.]

Shepard Family Update, Feb 29

Dear Family members and friends,

Happy Leap Day from Northern California! Winter is still with us in our part of the world, but there are growing signs every day that spring is not far away.

Fascinating Family Fact: Did you know? "William" had been a common name in our family, going back at least 170 years, perhaps even farther. It has been given to at least one member of our family in every generation (except one) going back as far as we can trace the Shepard name (1835). Here is a list of the Williams:

• William Shepard (1835-1862) - died in the civil war
• William Elmer Shepard (1862-1915) - civil war baby
• William Shepard (1888-1976) - "Grandad"
• Eugene William Shepard (1921-2003)
• (skip a generation)
• Nathan William Shepard (b.1977)

Who will be next to name one of their children William?

Family Faces. I am including two family pictures. The first is one of the oldest family pictures I have. It shows Elmer and Pauline Shepard and their grandmother Elvira Owens Shepard (1864-1931) wife of William Elmer Shepard.

I have no date for this picture, but Elmer, the boy in the picture, was born in 1918 and looks to be - what do you think? - maybe 2 years old? Elvira Owens Shepard, the woman in the picture, was "Grandad's" mother, whose family was from Alton, Illinois, where Grandad was born, which is just across the Mississippi River from Saint Louis, Mo.

The other is a picture taken last summer at our home in Dorrington California, of four cousins: Nathan William Shepard (of San Francisco), Patrick Shepard (of Bothell, Washington), and Steven and Linda Shepard (of Anacortes).

These 4 cousins represent the 20 great-grandchildren of Will and Bura Shepard, who range in age from 8 years old (Kaylan Shepard) to 42 (Eric Russell). Below is the complete list, with birth years and where they live now. Unfortunately, one from this list, Karl Wilk, died back in 1997. This is a very impressive generation of descendants of Will and Bura Shepard. (Please send me any corrections to this list.)

Bill and Pauline (Shepard) Russell's grandchildren:

• Eric Russell, 1965 (Reno, Nev?)
• Shannon Wilk, 1973 (Atchison, Kan.)

Beryl and Elmer Shepard's grandchildren:

• Havilah Colgain, 1982 (Dixon, Ca?)
• Nathan Shepard, 1996 (Oklahoma City)
• Kaylan Shepard, 1999 (Oklahoma City)

Maida and Gene Shepard's grandchildren:

• Kerri Aquiningoc, 1968 (Weatherford, Tx)
• Jason Shepard, 1972 (Ft Worth,Tx)
• Kelly Sauvage, 1973 (Weatherford, Tx)
• Nathan Shepard, 1977 (San Francisco)
• Christopher Shepard, 1984 (Bothell, Wa)
• Rachel Shepard, 1987 (Bothell, Wa)
• Patrick Shepard, 1990 (Bothell, Wa)
• Steven Paul Shepard, 1990 (Anacortes)
• Linda Shepard, 1993 (Anacortes)

Terry and Thelma (Shepard) Boyd's grandchildren:

• Courtney Boyd, 1990 (Santee, Ca)
• Brandyn Boyd, 1994 (Santee, Ca)
• Kori Lynn Boyd, 1997 (Santee, Ca)
• Jeremy Ortiz, 1980 (El Cajon, Ca)
• Amanda Ortiz, 1983 (Gallup, N.Mex.)
• Scott Ortiz, 1985 (El Cajon, Ca)

Family News: Happy Birthday to Kerri (Shepard) Aquiningoc, this coming Monday, March 3! (This is a big one for her, that ends in "0"!) Congratulations and best wishes!

Remember: Shepard Family Reunion, Saturday, July 19, 2008, Anacortes, Washington. We are pleased that many of you have already told us you will be there and are making your plans to attend. Please let us know if you can make it so that we can plan for your presence. We want to include every family member and friend!
--
Steve

[P.S.... If you know of other family members or friends who would like to receive these emails, please ask them to send me an email at shepard@sierrawebworks.com -- or give me their email addresses -- and I will include them on the email list. If you have their physical address, please send that to me as well and I will make sure they receive an invitation to the reunion by US Mail. Also, please let me know if you would rather I use a different email address for you, or if you would prefer NOT to receive these messages.]

Shepard Family Update, Feb 22

Dear Family members and friends, 


Hello from Anacortes, Washington, where Cindy and I are visiting with Maida and the rest of the family in this area. All the Shepards up here are excited about hosting the family reunion this summer on Saturday, July 19, and look forward to welcoming all of you who will be coming from places far or near. Be sure and let us know if you will be attending, and when you will be arriving. If you are coming by air, help with transportation from the SeaTac airport may be possible. 


Fascinating Family Fact: Speaking of Anacortes... Did you know? Anacortes is a scenic Puget Sound resort community, a popular ferry stop on the way to the San Juan Islands, and an hour and a half drive north of Seattle. 


The first of our Shepard family to live in these parts were Eugene and Maida Shepard, who sold their home in San Diego and moved here 30 years ago this spring, after Eugene retired from Civil service work. At first it was just the two of them and their youngest son Russell, who was still in High School. Their other 4 children were either married and on their own, or busy with other pursuits. Part of the reason for their move to the North West was to help with a small Church of Christ congregation in Anacortes whose minister was a friend from San Diego.

Over the last 30 years most of Maida and Gene's clan has settled in and around Anacortes, including Barbara in Anacortes (who lives with Maida), Russell and his wife Pam and their kids in Anacortes, Gary and his wife Cindy in nearby Oak Harbor, Wa, and Darrell and his wife Mary and their kids in Bothell, Wa. (a suburb of Seattle). Cindy and I are holdouts who still live in California, as does our son Nathan. Washington is too beautiful a place to visit to move here! ;-)

Family Faces. I am including two family pictures. The first is an old one of 20-year-old Maida Gower and 24-year-old Eugene Shepard, newlyweds on their honeymoon in Anaheim, Ca. Gene was in the Navy at the time, stationed at Los Alamitos Naval Air Station. There's was a small wartime wedding in San Diego at the El Cajon Blvd Church of Christ May 24, 1945. They enjoyed almost 60 years of marriage before Eugene died in the summer of 2003.

The other is a picture of the 1994 Anacortes family reunion. (You can click on the picture for a larger view.) In the picture are Bill and Pauline Russell, Art and Havilah Colgain (Joan's daughter), Maida and Eugene Shepard, their children Gary, Steve, Darrell, Barbara, and Russell, several of their grandchildren (Kerri, Kelly, Nathan, Chris, Rachel, Patrick, Linda and Steven Paul), Jerry Clark on the far left, and several members of Maida's Gower family. (We want all of you in the photo at this year's family reunion!)

This photo reminds us that we have lost several family members since this picture was taken. Not just Bill and Pauline and Eugene, who are in this picture, but others as well. We remember them all fondly.

Happy Birthday to Darrell Shepard this coming Wednesday, February 27!

- - -

Steve

Shepard Family Update, Feb 15, 2008

Dear Family members,

Hello everyone from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where Cindy and I are basking in 85 degree weather! A little warmth, after all the snow we have been having in Northern California, is a welcome respite. This is warm winter weather even by San Diego standards.

Fascinating Family Fact: Speaking of San Diego... Did you know? Some Shepard family members have made San Diego their home since Will and Bura Shepard moved there with their 4 children in 1940 from Two Buttes, Colorado, in that state's southeast corner. Before that the Shepard family had been in the panhandle of Oklahoma (Beaver County), and before that the St Louis area, and before that Indiana, and before that Ohio. Most of our Shepard family members in recent years have moved away from San Diego, but that area has been home to various family members continuously for almost 70 years now, longer than anywhere else.

Family Faces. I am sending two family pictures. The first is an old one dated Feb, 1945 and is a picture of Will and Bura Shepard's family, barely 5 years after the family first moved to San Diego. From left to right the adults are Pauline Russell, Elmer Shepard, Bura and Will Shepard. The children are Rex and Bev Russell and Thelma Shepard. They are in front of what looks like the Russell home on Ohio St in the North Park community of San Diego, the first home owned by any of our family in that city. Not in this picture are Eugene Shepard and Bill Russell (Pauline's husband) the only other members of our Shepard family in Feb, 1945.

The other is a recent picture of Dane and Cindy Shepard and their children Kaylan and Nathan of Oklahoma City.

Family News and Updates. Belated Birthday wishes to Cindy Shepard (Gary's Cindy) earlier this month on February 2! And Happy Birthday to Thelma's husband Terry Boyd next Wednesday, Feb 20, in Gallup, New Mexico!

I received an email recently from Shannon Wilk (Pauline Shepard Russell's granddaughter), who says...

I have a daughter now, she is 2 1/2 and will be 3 in June. Her name is Emma Beverly Jean Wilk. I had always wanted to name my child after my mom, and well the good Lord gave me the most wonderful gift ever. She is my angel baby.

May of '05 I moved to Mass., where dad and Frank were living, (Frank's daughter lives there) and had Emma that June. I was really home sick so they decided to go back to Kansas with me. So in August of '05, Emma was only 2 months old, we packed everything up and headed back here.

Kim told me about the reunion, and it sounds wonderful. I would love to go. Too many years have gone by without my family, and its about time I stay in touch with everyone. Now that my own family is all gone, though I do have Frank, and bless him, he has been there for me and Emma this whole time.

Remember: Shepard Family Reunion, Saturday, July 19, 2008, Anacortes, Washington.

Steve

Shepard Family Update, February 8

Dear Family members,

Hello from Lubbock, Texas, where Cindy and I are celebrating our 40th class reunion at Lubbock Christian University! We are enjoying the Texas hospitality of Jerry Clark and his wife Cathrina (see picture) and look forward to some time with long-time family friend Jane Brock and her husband Joe. We are also seeing school mates of years past -- all of whom, for some strange reason, have aged tremendously! ;-)

Fascinating Family Fact: Speaking of old... Did you know? Our oldest known Shepard ancestor, William Shepard (1835-1862), had a son, William Elmer Shepard (1862-1915), who was born in Wabash, Indiana during the Civil war, a few months before his father died. Because of his father's untimely death, the two of them probably never met.

William Elmer Shepard left home as a young man -- an old family tradition says he was estranged from his Indiana family for the rest of his life because of animosity with his step father. He settled in the St Louis area (Alton, Illinois) and married Elvira Owens. They had two children, a daughter, Sadie Shepard, and a son, William Shepard (1888-1976), who they named after his father AND grandfather. As a young man THIS William Shepard moved to the panhandle of Oklahoma (the land of opportunity at that time), married Bura Davis in 1915, and was the father of Pauline, Elmer, Eugene and Thelma. He was also a grandfather fondly remembered by a number of us (see picture).

I have no information on any of our Shepard ancestors before the William Shepard who was born in 1835 in Ohio. Do any of you have the interest and know-how to research our family history? We need one or more people who would be willing to give it some time and energy, in particular to discover our Shepard ancestors before 1835. And this is just the Shepard line. There is a whole other family tree belonging to Bura Davis (Shepard), that all us descendants can call ours.

Family Faces. I am including two family pictures. The first one shows Bura and William Shepard in 1975 (the year before he died), and includes 8 of their 10 grandchildren at the time. On the back row are grandchildren Barbara Shepard, Darrell Shepard, Joan Shepard and Gary Shepard; on the front row are grandchildren Darren Boyd, Dane Shepard and Kim Boyd; grandchild Russell Shepard is down in front. The picture also includes Gary's wife (at the time) Jackie, and their 3 children, Kelly, Kerri and Jason (Bura and William's great-grandchildren).

1975 was an eventful year for the Shepard family. This picture was taken at Gary and Jackie's home in Mira Mesa on the occasion of Maida and Eugene's 30th wedding anniversary. The following month William and Bura celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Two months before this picture was taken Rex and Margie Russell were married in a small family ceremony near Lake Jennings. Thanksgiving 1975 was a snowy event at Bill and Pauline Russell's cabin in Idylwild, Ca, remembered by many of us who were there. All of this came on the heels of the unfortunate deaths of Beverly Russell and Maida Shepard's father, Leroy Gower, within days of each other in December, 1974.

The other picture is Thanksgiving dinner 2007 and shows Cindy and me on the left, our son Nathan William Shepard on the right, with Jerry and Cathrina Clark next to Nathan. Next to me is Amanda (Clark) Farrell (Jerry's daughter) and her husband Chris, both Texans who now live in Hawthorne, New Jersey.

Family News. I received word this past week from Dane Shepard in Oklahoma City who says that his dad Elmer "has moved up near us into assisted living. His phone # is 405-376-0160 and his mailing address is ours: 8211 Shadow Lake Drive, Blanchard, OK 73010. We appreciate the family e-mail. Dad enjoys hearing about the family." (Elmer is the oldest living member of our Shepard family and will be 90 years old in May.)

As a follow up to my email a few weeks ago about family members who served in the military in wartime, Dane also writes, "My mother, Beryl (Swinney), was an ensign in the Navy Nurse Corp in WWII, stationed at Balboa Park, San Diego, from 1944-1945." ...Thanks so much, Dane, for sharing this information.

Remember: You are invited! Shepard Family Reunion, Saturday, July 19, 2008, Anacortes, Washington. Come for the day or the whole weekend! Find out where Anacortes, Washington is.
- - -
Steve Shepard

Shepard Family Update, Feb 1

February 1, 2008

Dear Family members,

Hello from the snowy mountains of Northern California, on the Eve of Ground Hog day, which celebrates the mid-point of winter. I can see my shadow at the moment; we shall see about tomorrow.

Remember: Shepard Family Reunion, Saturday, July 19, 2008, Anacortes, Washington. You are invited! Barbara tells me that she and Maida are in the process of sending out an updated notice about the events by US Mail to all those for whom they have physical addresses. Do they have yours? If not send it to me, or to them, and we will make sure you receive one.

After my last message regarding Shepard family members who served in wartime, I received word from Thelma (Shepard) Boyd that her husband Terry was in the Navy back in the mid-50s and that Rex Russell was also in the service about the same time, although -- thankfully -- during peacetime.

Fascinating Family Fact: Did you know? Our oldest known Shepard ancestor, William Shepard, was born in Ohio in 1835, but as a young man his family moved to Wabash, Indiana. There he entered the Union Army and died on July 21, 1862, at 27 years old, from wounds suffered in the Civil War. His burial site can be visited in the beautiful Civil War section of Oak Hill Cemetery in Evansville, Indiana.

I had a very interesting visit to his grave back in 1992 and found it easy to locate. I also visited his hometown of Wabash, Indiana and read that after being wounded in the war (by a cannon blast according to an old family story) he was sent to the hospital in Evansville where he contracted Typhoid fever which is what eventually took his life.

Family Faces. I am sending you two pictures. One is a picture of the grave of Civil War casualty William Shepard (1835-1862), our oldest known Shepard ancestor. His name is almost worn off the headstone (in front, on the right), which is now 146 years old.

The other picture is of Jeff and Kim (Boyd) Clark and two of Kim's 3 grandchildren, Ciara and Ashlyn, children of Jeremy and Desiree Ortiz, who live outside San Diego in El Cajon. Kim and her husband Jeff Clark live in Blue Springs, Missouri. Kim says she misses San Diego and gets back there quite often to visit her kids and grandkids.

I have been able to add a couple more family members to this email list. Our online circle now includes Mary and Rachel Shepard (Bothell, Washington) and Shannon Wilk (Atchison, Kansas). The list already includes Maida, Barbara, Gary, Pam, Linda, Steven Paul, Steven Dale, Nathan, Cindy1, Cindy2, Dane and Cindy3, Joan, Jeremy and Desiree, Thelma, Patrick, Darrell, Mary, Rachel, Shannon, Kim, Darren and Vicki, Jerry, Jane, Amanda F, and Kelly. Anybody else you'd like to add?
--
Steve

Shepard Family News January 25

January 25, 2008

Dear Family members,

I hope you are all enjoying winter, however harsh or mild it may be where you are. It has been snowing all week long at our house. We look out the window to about 3 feet of snow, but the electricity stays on, and the wood supply remains, so we are in good shape.

In the last message I made a small mistake in the identification of Maida Shepard's children in the picture that I sent. I said that the last two people on the right were Darrell and Russell, but I had them reversed. It is Russell and then Darrell. Small point, I know (unless you are Darrell or Russell!).

Fascinating Family Fact: Did you know? Two men in our Shepard family served in WWII, and one man served in the Civil War. Brothers Eugene and Elmer Shepard served in WWII, and our oldest known Shepard ancestor, William Shepard (1835-1862), served in the Civil War (more about him next time). I do not know of any other men or women in our Shepard family who may have served in one of America's wars. Do you? What about family members who have served in the Peace Corps?

Family Faces. I am sending you two pictures. One is from 1945, a picture taken in San Diego during WWII. The men in uniform are Eugene and Elmer Shepard. The children in front are Thelma Shepard (9 yrs old), Beverly Russell (6 yrs old) and Rex Russell (9 yrs old).

The other picture was taken just this past Xmas and is the family of Darrell and Mary Shepard of Bothell, Washington. From left to right they are Christopher, Patrick, Mary and Darrell (go Chargers!) and in front is Rachel. Thanks to Patrick Shepard for sending me this picture.

Do others of you have a family picture you would like to share? Email it to me; or USMail it to me at: PO Box 4540, Dorrington, CA 95223.

I have added a couple of new family members to our email list in recent weeks: Darren and Victoria Boyd (Santee, Ca), Jeremy and Desiree Ortiz (San Diego), and Kelly and James Sauvage (Weatherford, Texas). Our online circle widens! Who else can we add?

Congratulations to Mary and Darrell Shepard who celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary just a few weeks ago, on Dec 31, 2007! Also Happy Birthday to Mary Shepard on Jan 10 and to Dane Shepard in Oklahoma City whose birthday was this past Monday! Do you know of other January birthdays we can celebrate?

Remember the Family Reunion Saturday July 19, 2008 in Anacortes, Washington.
- - -
Steve

Shepard Family News January 18

January 18, 2008

Dear Shepard Family,

Saturday, July 19, 2008 is the date for the Shepard Family Reunion this summer in Anacortes, Washington. Barbara and Maida Shepard and other family members are making plans and arranging for a very special event. You are invited!

Thanks for your responses to my question about the unknown youngster in one of the pictures I sent. Maida and Joan and Kim all responded and said it looked like Shannon Wilk, granddaughter of Pauline Shepard Russell. I think they are right. As a follow-up, I googled Shannon Wilk to find out where she might be, and found an interesting family fact.

Family Fact: Most of you probably don't know that Phil Wilk, Shannon's father, died last September. Phil was married to Beverly Russell, daughter of Bill and Pauline (Shepard) Russell and lived in San Diego for many years. Below is a quote from a website which tells of Phil's passing, and mentions that Shannon Wilk (and her daughter!) now live in Atchison, Kansas. (Her exact address is unknown to me. Does anyone know it?)

If you would like to visit the website regarding Phil's death, click here. Here is a quote from it:

Phillip G. Wilk, 72, of Atchison, [Kansas] passed away Monday, Sept. 17, 2007, at the Atchison Hospital.
Phillip was born Feb. 8, 1935, in Leavenworth, the son of Paul and Vera (Mobley) Wilk. He graduated from Leavenworth High School. Phillip entered the Navy in 1953 and made San Diego home for 34 years. After four years in the Navy, he went to work for San Diego Gas and Electric, where he was in charge of records management, and later retired. Phillip loved to cook, read, tell stories and attend flea markets.
Upon retirement, he moved back to Leavenworth for one year and then to Michigan. He later moved to Massachusetts, until settling in Atchison in 2005. Phillip married Beverly Jean Russell in 1965 and together they had two children, Karl Wilk and Shannon Wilk.
Survivors include his daughter, Shannon Wilk and a granddaughter of Atchison; Frank Bockach of Atchison; Gary and MaryAn Wilk of McLouth; Sandy Smith of Fayetteville, Ga.; Mary and Wayne Jennings of Effingham, Kan.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1974 and his son in 1997.

Memorial services will be at noon Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007, at the Community of Christ Church, Ninth and Santa Fe streets in Atchison. The body has been cremated. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and may be sent in care of the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home.

Family Faces. With this post I am including two more pictures. The first is an old one from June, 1975, a picture of Phil Wilk holding his daughter Shannon at the Russell home in San Diego. Beverly, his wife and Shannon's mother, died tragically at 35 of a brain aneurism just 6 months before this picture was taken.


The second picture evokes happier thoughts; it is Maida Shepard and her 5 children: Steve (me), Barbara, Gary, Darrell and Russell. It was taken last summer in Anacortes, Washington.

Do you have some family news you would like to share with others in your family: a birth or a milestone birthday, a move to a new address, a graduation, something special about your children, a marriage or some other event worth sharing? I would be glad to pass it on for the rest of the family to read. And, of course, if you have a new (or old) family picture you'd like to share, email it to me.
- - -
Steve

Shepard Family Update - January 11

January 11, 2008

Hello Shepard Family members,

Are you making your plans for the Shepard Family Reunion, July 19, 2008 in Anacortes, Washington? It is now just about 6 months away. Maida Shepard and Barbara in Anacortes would like to have an idea of who will be coming. If you think you might make it, please send me an email and I will let them know.

Fascinating Family Fact: Did you know? In our Shepard family there are TWO Steven Shepards, TWO Nathan Shepards, and THREE Cindy Shepards!

The Steven Shepards are Steven Paul Shepard of Anacortes, WA and me, Steven Dale Shepard of Dorrington, CA.

The Nathan Shepards are Nathan William Shepard of San Francisco and Nathan Shepard of Oklahoma City, son of Dane and Cindy Shepard. (By the way, we also have a THIRD "Nate" in our family, Nathaniel Sauvage of Weatherford, Texas, grandson of Gary Shepard.)

The Cindy Shepards are Cindy Ann Shepard ("Gary's Cindy" of Oak Harbor, WA), Cynthia Harris Shepard ("Steve's Cindy" of Dorrington, CA) and Jacinta (Saunders) Shepard ("Dane's Cindy" of Oklahoma City).

Family Faces. I am again sending two pictures: one from 1973 or 74 and one from very recently. The older picture is William and Bura Shepard with Kelly, Kerri and Jason Shepard, their great grandchildren. Can anyone tell me who the youngster on the lower right is?

The second picture is Gary Shepard with his 3 children (Kerri Aquiningoc and Kelly Sauvage of Weatherford, Texas, and Jason Shepard of Ft Worth) and Gary's four grandchildren, Mandy and Lyndsay Aquiningoc, and Kyle and Nate Sauvage.

(Please let me know of any corrections that need to be made to identifications I am making, or spelling of names or anything else! Thanks so much.)
--
Steve
shepard@sierrawebworks.com

[P.S.... If you know of other family members who would like to receive these emails, please ask them to send me an email at shepard@sierrawebworks.com -- or give me their email addresses -- and I will include them on the email list. If you have their physical address, please send that to me as well and I will make sure they receive an invitation to the reunion by US Mail. Also, please let me know if you would rather I use a different email address for you, or if you would prefer NOT to receive these emails.]

Happy New Year, Shepard Family and Friends!

Hello Shepard Family and Friends,

This message comes with a wish that 2008 will be a wonderful year for each of us, a year filled with joy and purpose and fulfillment; and a year to realize all over again the value of family -- not just those close at hand, but also those not so close, with whom we share a common bond.

Earlier this week Barbara sent out, by regular mail, formal invitations to the family reunion July 19, 2008, in Anacortes, Washington. (Thanks to Barb!) She sent them out to all those she had a physical address for. If you did not get one, send me an email with your home address and I will make sure one gets sent to you. We want to keep every friend and family member informed, whether or not you will actually be there in person.

Fascinating Family Fact: Did you know? The oldest living member of our Shepard family is Elmer Shepard of Henderson, Texas who will be 90 in May, 2008. And the youngest member of our family is Thelma Shepard Boyd's great grandson, Damian Ortiz, born Nov 29, 2006 in San Diego to Jeremy and Desiree Ortiz. (see picture).

Family Faces: I am sending two pictures with this email. One is an oldie, from November, 1953, of William and Bura Shepard, their 4 children, and their 6 grandchildren (plus two others on the way! Beryl, on the left, will give birth to a daughter Joan in a few months; and Maida, in the middle, though it is hard to tell, will give birth to Darrell in a few months.). The children on the front row are Dane, me, Gary and Linda. The others in the picture are Elmer, Thelma, Eugene (above Maida), Beverly, Pauline, Bill, and Rex Russell. Dane tells me this picture was taken in Alpine, California (east of San Diego) where Elmer and his family were living at the time.

The other picture is a very recent picture of Thelma and Terry Boyd, with two of their 3 grandchildren (Jeremy and Amanda Ortiz) and their 3 great grandchildren (including their youngest, Damian on the left with his mother Desiree).

Do you have an old or new family picture you'd like to share with others in your extended family? Just email it to me.
--
Steve