Now and Then, July 23, 2012

It is time for those

who talk about family values

to start valuing families.

~John Kerry

Hello Family and Friends,

Greetings to all of you from Alameda, California where Cindy and I find ourselves, while the vigil continues and the anticipation builds.

Happy Birthday Shannon! Tomorrow is the birthday of thirty-something Shannon Wilk, daughter of the late Phil Wilk and Beverly Russell Wilk. Shannon is one of the Ggrandchildren of William and Bura Davis Shepard.

Shannon: We thought it was funny that we all had pink on the day of that picture. You just had to remember my birthday, didn't you!! I was trying to forget it!! Time is flying by and I can't catch up!! 

Emma lost her other top front tooth. She will be in second grade this year. We are good and just enjoying everyday as best we can. The weather here is so HOT!! 106 today. The grass is brown, the crops are all dried up and it doesn't look like the end is near. Thank goodness our wonderful neighbors let us come over and swim all the time. I hope all is well with you. As always, it's nice to hear from you. Take care.

The first picture shows Shannon with her daughter Emma, and Frank Bockach. Frank was the life partner of Shannon's father Phil Wilk for 28 years until Phil died back in 2007. Shannon, Emma and Frank live in Atchison, Kansas.

A Family Hero. In my last post I mentioned that at this time of the year our family remembers several persons whose deaths were especially difficult because they died so young.

Yesterday as we sat in church, I said a prayer for the memory of my GGgrandfather, William Shepard (1835-1862). It was exactly 150 years ago yesterday that William, at 26 years old, died in Evansville, Indiana in the service of the Union Army during the Civil War. (See second picture of his grave, with the ghostly image of a white dove floating across the grass over the grave where he lay. I honestly did not notice anything unusual when I took this picture last summer.) 

When he died he left a 21 year old wife named Mary Sprague Shepard and a 5 month old baby named William Elmer Shepard. We remember and honor the soldier William for his willingness to serve and for the sacrifice of his life that was honorably made for his country.

He was one of over half a million Americans who died in the Civil War, but we owe it to him to remember his life nonetheless. Indeed, his life and sacrifice are given greater honor as he is remembered by us who are his descendants. He is only one of several members in our family tree who served during that conflict, yet William still stands out as one more family member who died way too young.

We don't know the full extent of the hardships faced by his young widow Mary Shepard and their infant son, but life must have been extremely difficult for them. There is no record that she ever received a widow's pension, but she did remarry a few years later, and had three more children by her second husband, and lived into the 20th century to the ripe old age of 79. Unfortunately the difficulty of being a widow with a child took its toll and she was estranged from her only Shepard son, William Elmer, for his entire adult life.

We look back with humility and gratitude at ancestors like William and Mary and their son William Elmer who made the most of their lives under trying circumstances. And we hope that something of their fortitude and resilience has been passed on to us who share their DNA. 

- - -

Steve

Remembering Manuel, July 19, 2012

American families have always shown remarkable resiliency.

This resilience is not measured by wealth, muscle or efficiency

but by creativity, unity, and hope.

~Ben Silliman

Hello Family and Friends,

Greetings to all of you from Northern California where Cindy and I continue our visit with Nathan and Chenda and await our next grandchild.

Genealogy is primarily about people who have died. And unfortunately, it is often about people who have died in an untimely manner. This time of the year we remember several family members whose deaths were unexpected and who died long before they should have.

Today would be the 51st birthday of Manuel Aqui- ningoc, the late husband of Kerri Shepard Aqui- ningoc. Manuel died in San Diego on July 2, 1992, 20 years ago this month, just a few weeks short of his 31st birthday. He left behind a 1 year old daughter and a wife 6 months pregnant. Today his wife Kerri and his daughters Lyndsey and Mandi live in Weatherford, Texas.

The first picture, taken in San Diego in 1990, shows Manuel and Kerri on the right with Kerri's Ggrandmother Nola Shannon Gower in the middle holding their daughter Lyndsey. On the left is Kerri's father Gary Shepard. Baby Lyndsey in Nola's lap was Manuel and Kerri's first child, Gary's first grandchild and Nola's first GGgrandchild.

Manuel's unfortunate death in 1992 continues to remind us that life is fragile. It also reminds us of the power of memory and longing for family members who have gone before and who continue to mean so much to us. Both Lyndsey and Mandi let me know they would not mind me sharing the following thoughts regarding their father Manuel.

Lyndsey: I miss my daddy more than anyone can imagine. I know he's doing nothing but looking down and protecting us just like he would be doing if he was here. R.I.P. Daddy. I love you more than anything in this world and I would do ANYTHING right now to be in your arms! But at least I can say you have left me with an amazing brother and sister and even though bro is hundreds and hundreds of miles away I know he is here for us WHENEVER AND HOWEVER! I have the BEST family ANYONE could EVER ask for! So I thank you mama and dad for bringing me into such a wonderful family! Y'all are what keeps me strong in this challenging life we live! I love everyone of you! XoXo :)

Mandi: I am doing great. Still have my job, it's going good. My dad is very much missed everyday and always on my mind. Every minute every hour of the day. But I just tell myself he's with me in my heart constantly. :) I hope everyone is doing good over there. Love and miss y'all tons! Talk to you soon, uncle Steve!

The second picture, taken earlier this month, shows Mandi and Lyndsey with their mother Kerri Shepard Aquiningoc.

- - -

Steve

More About Our Owens Kin, July 13, 2012

When I was a kid

my parents moved a lot,

but I always found them.

~Rodney Dangerfield

Hello Family and Friends,

Greetings to all of you on Friday the 13th from Alameda, California where Cindy and I are lucky enough to be visiting our kids and grandkids. Chenda's next baby is not due for another two weeks, but you know how kids are these days. They seem to have minds of their own. "Due dates" seem to mean nothing to them. Baby #3 has his own agenda and may arrive sooner. Or later. But whenever he makes his appearance, you will be among the first to know!

In a post earlier this month, I referred to my Ggrandmother Elvira Owens Shepard, who was the mother of my grandad William Shepard. Elvira met and married William Elmer Shepard, and then bore their two children in Madison County, Illinois. In the early years of the 20th century William, Elvira and their kids moved to Beaver County, Oklahoma, where their son Will met and married Bura Davis. In 1928 Will and Bura then moved to Southeast Colorado and in 1940 they moved to California, settling in San Diego.

Other Owens Kin In California. That much of our family story I have told many times in this blog. What I did not know until just last week is that grandad Will Shepard was not the only Owens descendant to move to California in the early 20th century. Will had a number of first cousins on the Owens side of his family who also moved to California in search of a better life.

Two of Will's aunts and uncles were Mary Elizabeth and Elias Veach Owens (see first picture). Like William Elmer and Elvira, they migrated to Oklahoma around the turn of the century, and spent their last days there. They had a family of 11 children. Of these 11 first cousins of Will, 5 of them migrated to California as Will and Bura did. As far as I can tell, none of them settled in San Diego like Will and Bura. Instead many of them made their homes in the San Joaquin Valley, which in the early 20th century was a favorite settling location for countless families from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Colorado.

Elias was just one of Elvira's 8 siblings. Between them all, Will had 34 Owens first cousins. In the records I have found, at least 9 of them migrated to California. (By the way, can you guess how many Shepard first cousins Will had? If you guessed "0" you would be correct. His father was an only child.)

Two California Cousins. Two of the Owens cousins of Will who migrated to California were a set of twins with the clever names of Ivy Pearl and Irvin Earl Owens. (See second picture of these twins, which looks to be from around 1915.)

Irvin Earl came to California first and married a California girl in 1917 and settled in Tipton in Tulare County. (The 1940 Census shows that Irvin owned and ran a garage in Tipton.) His twin Ivy Pearl came to California after 1930 with her husband and family and also settled in Tulare County where she spent the rest of her life.

Cousin Ivy Pearl died in 1971 and is buried in Tulare County's Tipton-Pixley Cemetery. Interestingly enough, her grave is just a mile or so from the route Cindy and I regularly take between Northern and Southern California. I look forward to stopping the next time we pass that way, and visit the final resting place of this first cousin twice removed that I never knew I had until last week.

I wonder if grandad William even knew these first cousins of his who came to California like him? I never heard him talk about any of his Owens kinfolk except his mother, either those who remained in Oklahoma or Illinois, or those who came to California.

- - -

Steve

July Birthdays Everywhere, July 6, 2012

First we are children to our parents,

then parents to our children,

then parents to our parents,

then children to our children. 

~Milton Greenblatt

Hello Family and Friends,

After my last blog entry regarding celebrations on the week of July 4, Norma Lou Kilpatrick Allen of Bolivar, Missouri emailed me. Norma Lou is the niece of my grandmother Bura Davis Shepard.

I enjoyed reading about your week of July 4th. My husband and I have three children and were fortunate to welcome to this world our first born on the morning of July 4, 1951. She is now Beverly Scott Huppenthal. She is a small animal veterinarian living in Tempe, Arizona; her Gilbert Veterinary Hospital is in Gilbert, AZ.  She and her husband have two children; John who attends Arizona State, and Susan who attends Harding University. Just thought I would let you know of another of our extended family with a July 4th birthday.

Speaking of July births... Congratulations to Andrew and Susan Clark Cox of Lubbock, Texas. Susan reported on Facebook that she gave birth to her newest baby this past Monday, July 2. "Morgan June made a surprise entrance!!! We are so blessed!" Susan is the daughter of Jerry Clark and Jane Brock of Lubbock. The first picture shows father Andrew with new arrival Morgan June Cox. 

Today is the 30th birthday of Desiree Ortiz of Blue Springs, Missouri. Desiree is the wife of Jeremy Ortiz, a Ggrandson of Will and Bura Davis Shepard. Jeremy and Desiree have 5 children, the last two, twins Isaac and Dominic, were born April 23 and are now home from the hospital.

Desiree: I've been good, just really busy as you can imagine. I'm so glad to finally have my whole family home with me! The babies are doing so well and we are all getting use to their schedule -- after all, they are boss, lol! I will be 30 this Friday. I have my best friend Armand from San Diego as well as my brother Scott flying in this Thursday to celebrate with me and meet the boys! We will start the day by taking the boat and jet ski out to the lake for a few hours and then go to dinner. I haven't decided where I would like to go yet, so we will see. The year has just been flying by. I'm hoping that now that we are all together time will slow down for a minute and we can enjoy these little babies while they are still little because they grow to fast as you know!

Tomorrow is the 10th birthday of Nate Sauvage of Weatherford, Texas. Nate is the older brother of Kyle whose birthday we celebrated last week, and the son of James and Kelly Sauvage.

Kelly: Nate is having a good summer so far. He loves going to summer camp everyday and going on field trips. He is right there with me at every one of Kyle's baseball practices and games. Although I think he'd rather skip some of them. We are on vacation the week of July 4th and we have plans to hit a few local water parks...his favorite. He played basketball again this year which is his favorite sport. He had a 6 point game which was so exciting for him. He is definitely built for it. He's already almost as tall as me...I think he'll pass me by his next birthday. He is still the most loving boy I have ever met. He always wants to give everyone hugs and tell them he loves them. I am extremely blessed to have such loving, polite little boys!

Congratulations and best wishes to Norma Lou, Morgan June, Desiree, Nate and their families as they celebrate these early July births.
- - -
Steve

Happy Independence Day! July 1, 2012

Family is what grounds you.

~Angelina Jolie

Hello Family and Friends,

On this week of July 4, several family celebrations are in order.

Happy Birthday today to Becky Clark Cave who lives in Weatherford, Texas with her husband Matthew and their 3 children. She is the oldest daughter of Jerry Clark and Jane Brock of Lubbock, Texas.

Happy Anniversary. Today we also congratulate Sean and Heather Robson Cotton of San Antonio, Texas, who celebrate 12 years of marriage. Heather is a Granddaughter of my aunt Vicki Johnston and the daughter of my cousin Paula Tuzzolino of Oak Harbor, Washington. Heather is also one of the Ggrandchildren of Leroy and Nola Gower.

The first picture shows Heather with her husband Sean and their daughters Victoria and Alexandria.

A 147th Birthday. Today, July 1, was also the birthday of my Ggrandmother Elvira Owens Shepard. Elvira is our connection to our Owens roots of 19th century Madison County, Illinois. Her Owens kinfolk consisted of a strong family with healthy roots, that I have written about in this blog a number of times. Elvira's parents Payton and Mary Wheeler Owens, were early Illinois land owners who began the establishment of the Owens family in Madison County, a presence that continues there to this day. Elvira's Ggrandparents Edmund and Sarah Rives Owens were both originally from Virginia and were children on the very first July 4th celebration in 1776.

Coming from a strong family, it was ironic that in the early 1880s, as a young woman, Elvira met and fell in love with a vagabond from Indiana named William Elmer Shepard, who had no connection to his family. His father had died in the Civil War when he was an infant, and by the time he became a teenager, he was at such odds with his step family that he left his Indiana home and never looked back. For whatever reason he landed in Illinois, where he met Elvira. In 1886 they married and over the course of the next few years had two children, Sadie and William. (I would eventually become a grandchild of William.)

Elvira was born July 1, 1865, just 3 days before the first July 4th celebration after the Civil War. It was a time of new beginnings, following one of the darkest times in our nation's history. But it was an incredibly formative time for our country as well. Some would say July 4, 1865 represented an even more defining moment for our nation than July 4, 1776. The Civil War was a devastating experience, but it brought our nation to a much more complete and mature understanding of who we are. Our identity shifted dramatically from being a group of independent states to being a united people. Before 1865 people always said "the United States ARE..." (plural verb, emphasizing the states). After 1865, when people spoke of our county they said, "the United States IS..." (singular verb, emphasizing the union).

Elvira, her family of origin as well as her own family, were all a part of this "new" nation, after the Civil War, a nation that was continuing to evolve and become something that we still celebrate today. The second picture shows Elvira and two of her grandchildren, Elmer and Pauline Shepard. This picture was taken about 1919 in Beaver County, OK., where Elvira and her family migrated in the early 1900s and where she lived the rest of her life.

- - -

Steve

Family Vacations, June 26, 2012

Family's more than just DNA.

It's about people who care

and take care of each other.
-agent Gibbs, NCIS

Hello Family and Friends,

Today is the 8th birthday of Kyle Christian Sauvage of Weatherford, Texas. Kyle and his older brother Nate are the sons of James and Kelly Shepard Sauvage and the grandsons of my brother Gary Shepard (see third picture below). Kyle is also the 7th of the 12 GGgrandchildren of Leroy and Nola Gower, and the 5th of the 13 GGgrandchildren of Will and Bura Shepard. 

The first picture shows Kyle during a recent baseball game. The second picture was taken when Kyle (bottom, middle), his brother Nate (on the right) and his mom Kelly (left) along with Cindy (on the right) and I spent some time together at spring training back in March in Phoenix, Arizona.

Kyle's mother Kelly wrote me recently: "Hi Uncle Steve, yes Kyle's birthday is Tuesday. We have been really busy lately. Kyle made the all star team in baseball once again this year. Every day there was either a practice or a game. He had another great season and found he has a new favorite position...centerfield. He said he wants to play centerfield like Cameron Maybin on the Padres. He is also going to summer camp every day while I'm at work. He gets to go swimming every day and a big field trip once a week. He continues to be a big Chargers and Padres fan and has a dream of being a famous baseball player for the San Diego Padres when he grows up! Everyday he gives me more reasons to be a proud mommy!"

Family Vacation Pictures. The vacation season is well under way. Recently two of my brothers, Gary and Russ, came to California on a road trip and visited Cindy and me. One day while they were here we all went to Yosemite to sight see and to relive some of our favorite memories of years past when our whole family vacationed in Yosemite.

The third picture I am including shows the 4 of us at the entrance to Yosemite. It was the first time in 39 years that we had been in Yosemite together. From left to right are my brothers Russ and Gary Shepard (Kyle's grandfather), with Cindy and me.

Do you have a family vacation photo from this summer that you'd like to share? Or, if you will be vacationing this summer and taking pictures, pass one along to me and I'd be glad to include it in an upcoming blog post.

- - -

Steve

Gowers in the 1940 Census, June 20, 2012

 A family is a unit

composed not only of children

but of men, women, an occasional animal

and the common cold.

~Ogden Nash

Hello Family and Friends,

Happy Anniversary to Nathan and Chenda Shepard, who will celebrate 3 years of marriage tomorrow, June 21. They were married in San Diego overlooking the ocean on the summer solstice in 2009 just a week after Chenda arrived from Cambodia. 

The first picture shows Chenda and Nathan in a picture that was taken recently in Alameda, California where they live with their children Preslea and Logan.

More About the 1940 Census. Several weeks ago I referred the 1940 US Census and the information that I found there regarding our Shepard family who lived in Two Buttes, Colorado at the time. Recently I have found information about my mother's Gower family who lived in Oklahoma in 1940.

As I mentioned before, my Shepard grandparents moved to San Diego from Colorado just months after the 1940 US Census which was taken in April of that year. My Gower grandparents Leroy and Nola did not move to San Diego from Oklahoma until 1942, two years after the 1940 Census. Before their move they were living in the little town of Okemah, Oklahoma, about half way between Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

The second picture shows Nola and Leroy Gower with their two daughters, Maida and Melva (Vicki). Their other child, Hendrix, is not shown and may have been taking the picture. This photo was taken in San Diego not long after they left Oklahoma.

The 1940 Census records show that Leroy (age 39) and Nola (36) had three children: Hendrix (17), Maida (15) and Melva Bernice (Vicki, 6). What is not in the census, but what we know today, is that they had moved from Arkansas to Oklahoma in 1925, the year after my mother Maida was born. So they had been in Oklahoma for 15 years at the time of the 1940 Census. Family stories that I have heard indicate that times were hard for the Gowers and that Leroy in particular, had a very difficult time finding work.

The census reports that Leroy had only worked a total of 20 weeks in the year 1939, and that Nola had worked 44 weeks that year as a housekeeper, earning a total of $202. It also states that at the time of the Census Leroy had been looking for work for 36 weeks.

Leroy is listed as having completed the 7th grade in school, Nola the 4th grade. Melva (Vicki) was only 6 years old at the time and had just begun her public school education, while Hendrix and Maida had both completed the 8th grade. Maida was still in school in 1940, and was actually in the middle of her senior year in High School when they moved to San Diego in late 1942. She graduated from San Diego High just months after arriving in California.

The third picture I am including shows Maida Gower in a one of the few pictures I have which was taken in Okemah. It was taken shortly before they moved to California. Maida told me recently that she was not in a church choir but part of an Eastern Star program. For just a short time in Oklahoma she had responded to a neighbor's invitation to participate in Eastern Star.

In view of the information given in the 1940 Census regarding the Gowers, it is understandable why the family would move to California in search of work just two years later. It must have been a kind of dream come true when Leroy and his son Hendrix found good jobs just weeks after arriving. Being in California was a time of new beginnings for the Gowers. Their life on the west coast was very different from the difficult times in Oklahoma, reflected in the Census of 1940.
- - -
Steve

Celebrating 300! June 13, 2012

In the midst of the chaos

When the wind is howling I hear

the ancient song

Of the ones who went before

And know that peace will come

-Susan Stauter

Hello Family and Friends,

Father's Day. This coming Sunday is Father's Day, a day to remember and honor our fathers. The first picture I am including today shows the three fathers who have been most influential in my life: my grandfathers Leroy Gower (1899-1974) and William Shepard (1888-1976), and my father Eugene Shepard (1921-2003).

Happy Birthday Scott Ortiz. Today is the 27th birthday of Scott Ortiz, the son of Kim Boyd Clark. Scott is also the grandson of Terry and Thelma Shepard Boyd. The second picture (below), taken last Christmas, shows Scott on the left with his brother Jeremy and their Ortiz grandfather Gabe, Sr.

Celebrating 300! Today marks a major milestone in the life of The Shepard's Crook: the 300th blog post. When I first began this adventure 299 entries ago, I had no idea that it would continue this long. But I should not have been surprised. Researching our family, celebrating our family's life, and sharing pictures is a never ending enterprise.

Thanks to all of you who read this blog. More and more family members are added to my mailing list all the time. Some are close family while others are distant relatives -- kissin' cousins or shirttail relatives. Some are kinfolk I have never met but who are related to people I am related to, and who share an interest in our family. I appreciate the feedback, questions and insights that I have received from many of you, and the interest you have shown in learning about our common ancestors.

I don't know what the future will bring or how long this blog will continue, but for now I will keep telling the stories and sharing the pictures of our family. They are worth telling and sharing because they are about us: you and me, the new family members, as well as the relatives long gone. They are all people whose lives and loves, whose courage and mishaps need to be told and retold, because their stories are our stories. And because in the retelling we "hear the ancient song of the ones who went before and know that peace will come."

Arrival Day. Today is the anniversary of "arrival day" in our family. It was on this day 3 years ago that Chenda Sou arrived in California from Cambodia. A week later she and our son Nathan were married, and within a year they became parents when Preslea was born. The following year they became parents again when Logan was born, and today they are within weeks of yet a third child.

This means, of course, that Cindy and I are now grandparents, something that is changing our lives and touching our hearts in ways we never imagined. The third picture shows Nathan and Chenda (in the middle), with Cindy and me on either side, and their two children Logan and Preslea (the Khmerican Cowgirl).

We celebrate with Chenda as she looks back on her first 3 years in America and as she continues her adjustment to a new family, a new culture and a new language. The learning curve has been steep, and the road has not always been easy, but we are very grateful for her and for the change she has brought to our family.

- - -

Steve

A Widening Circle, June 6, 2012

I looked up my family tree

and found out that I'm the sap.

~Rodney Dangerfield

Hello Family and Friends,

Greetings to all of you from San Diego, where we are settling into our new home at the foot of Cowles Mountain on the outskirts of the city.

Happy Birthday Emma Wilk! Today is the 7th birthday of Emma Beverly Jean Wilk, the daughter of Shannon Wilk of Atchison, Kansas, and the granddaughter of my cousin Beverly Russell Wilk (1939-1974).

Shannon: "Yes Emma will be 7. Still trying to wrap my head around it. Where did my little baby go?? She is doing wonderful. Having a good summer so far. They got out of school a week early. They start back on the 9th of August. I think that is too early, but I don't make the rules....lol. I'm doing well, working and taking care of Emma. Enjoying nice weather, though it was quite hot yesterday. I think we hit 90. Still no rain, and the grass, and trees and fields are sure in need of it. I will admit I'm needing some good summer thunderstorms. They get pretty amazing here in Kansas. We have a new neighbor family and they have a 14 year old girl. Emma has found her a new BFF."

Emma is in the very middle (#7) of the 13 GGgrandchildren of Will and Bura Shepard. These GGgrandkids are a very special group who fills the rest of us with hope for our family's future. It's a group that embraces the youngest family members among us, from Lyndsey Aquiningoc (born 1990) to Dominic Ortiz (born 2012).

The first picture I am including today shows Emma Wilk with her cousin Ciara Ortiz. The second picture shows Emma's grandmother Beverly Russell with her brother Rex Russell. This picture was taken in San Diego sometime in the late 1940s when Bev was about the same age that her granddaughter Emma is today.

The Circle Widens. It is always gratifying when, in the midst of my online family research, I hear from people who are related to me in some way. Just the other day I got a message from a woman who is a GG granddaughter of John Pouty Williams and his wife Sarah, who are my GGG grandparents. I have written a number of times in this blog about John Pouty and Sarah. They are among our progenitors who lived outside Spencer, Indiana and are buried in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery there. They were the Ggrandparents of my grandmother Bura Davis Shepard.

The relative who contacted me is Betty-Jean Girouard, from Montreal, Canada. Betty-Jean's grandmother, Minnie Mary Williams was a first cousin of Callie Spear Davis (my Ggrandmother). Minnie Mary Williams (1900-1992) with her husband Alexander Kembel (see 3rd picture, from 1919), were early 20th century immigrants to Canada, where some of their descendants, including Betty-Jean, live today.

Connecting with people in this way not only gives me the simple joy of corresponding with folks who are related, albeit distantly, it also widens the circle of people who are researching some of the same people I am. And with a widening circle comes the hope of more discoveries and insights about people in our family trees.
- - -

Steve

Three Anniversaries, June 1, 2012

Don't worry that children never listen to you;

worry that they are always watching you.

~Robert Fulghum

Hello Family and Friends,

10 Years. Today is the 10th wedding anniversary of Jeremy and Desiree Ortiz of Blue Springs, Missouri. Jeremy is one of the Ggrandchildren of Will and Bura Shepard. He and Desiree's new twin boys --  Isaac and Dominic -- were born April 23 and are the youngest of the 13 GGgrandchildren of Will and Bura Shepard. They are also the first set of twins among all their descendants.

Grandmother Kim reported just yesterday on Facebook: The babies are doing great. Isaac weighs 4 lbs 10 oz and Dominic weighs 5 lbs 1 oz. Dominic is a little bigger and has chubbier cheeks but other than that they are the same. They have been in the NICU over 5 weeks now. Grammy goes every day, now that I can hold them and feed them. What a fun job -- it's so beautiful there. It will be so nice to get them home pretty soon. We were told not to take them to church or other places with a lot of people until the end of summer.

Jeremy and Desiree's other children are Ciara, Ashlyn and Damian. Best wishes to Jeremy and Desiree for a happy anniversary in the midst of all that is happening in their lives these days.

33 Years. Tomorrow, June 2, is the 33rd wedding anniversary of my brother Gary Shepard and his wife Cindy Dillon Shepard. The second picture shows Gary on the left and Cindy on the right, with our father Gene Shepard in the middle. Even though Cindy's sweatshirt says Anacortes, this picture was taken at our vacation home in Arnold, California, Thanksgiving 1990.


Gary and Cindy had a beautiful garden wedding in our backyard in Los Alamitos, California in 1979, but will celebrate the event tomorrow in Oak Harbor, Washington, where they live. Cindy had much needed surgery on her shoulder about two weeks ago, and is recovering nicely. Happy Anniversary to them!

97 Years. Tomorrow, June 2, we remember the 97th anniversary of the wedding of William Shepard and Bura Davis who were married in Beaver County, Oklahoma in 1915. They were married on the 45th birthday of Bura's father James Brooks Davis (1870-1928).

Will and Bura's wedding 97 years ago was significant because it connected the Shepard and the Davis family lines that have been so important and valuable to our heritage. A key person in that part of our heritage was Bura's father James Brooks Davis, who was born June 2, 1870. He and his wife Callie Spear Davis are noteworthy "transitional people" in our family tree. They uprooted their family of 9 in 1913 and moved 900 miles from Spencer, Indiana, where their families had been settled for several generations, to Beaver County, Oklahoma where some of their extended family still live today.

The third picture is one I received earlier this year and shows William and Bura Davis Shepard sitting in a beautiful old car with their three children. From left to right are Eugene on the hood, Pauline on the running board and Elmer sitting behind his father William. This picture was taken about 1926, when the family lived in Beaver County, Oklahoma.

Will and Bura likewise were transitional folks who -- a generation later -- uprooted their family in 1940 and moved them 1,200 miles to San Diego where they settled for the rest of their lives, and where some of their descendants still live today. Will and Bura were the first of the Shepards and the Davises to move to Southern California.
- - -
Steve