Edith Graham was born January 2, 1931, in Gothenburg, NE to Jay and Florence Beardsley Prell. She was the 5th of 7 children raised on her parent’s ranch in a sod house in northern Niobrara County, Wyoming. She attended one-room schools until her parents moved to town. She graduated from Newcastle High School in 1948. Edith married Robert “Bob” L. Shepherd on January 21, 1950, in Craig, CO. Together they had three children, Jacquelyn, Shelley, and Jay. The family lived in Craig, CO, until 1964 when they moved to Grand Junction, CO. Shortly after moving to Grand Junction, Edith went to work at The Isle of Fabrics, where she perfected the skills of sewing. She opened and operated the Mall Fabrics on Main Street until 1973. After closing her store, she went to work at Hi Fashion Fabrics where she worked off and on for 20+ years. She and Bob also owned Shepherd Plumbing & Heating until 1984, when they moved to Ventura, CA. Robert was killed in an Industrial Accident in 1986, and she moved back to CO in the fall of 1986. In 1996 she married Buck W Graham. During their 18 years of marriage they lived in WY and CO. Buck passed away in 2014. Edith was an accomplished seamstress, making both of her daughter’s wedding dresses and numerous formals for her granddaughters. Over the last few years she went into the craft show business with her daughter, Shelley, and granddaughter, Stephanie, making table runners, wall hangings, and quilts. When Alzheimer’s took her ability to design and piece quilting projects, she was still able to do beautiful handwork. She lived independently up to one month before her death. She passed peacefully surrounded by family at the HopeWest Hospice Care Center in Grand Junction, CO, on July 18, 2018.
She was proceeded in death by her parents; four brothers, George, Glen, Ed, and Bill; her sister, Peg; her husbands, Robert Shepherd and Buck Graham; and one grand son-in-law, Trooper Jason Manspeaker. She is survived by her sister, Jo Shakelfurd of Newcastle WY; children, Jackie (Dallas) Todd of Grand Junction, Shelley (Keith) Hoey of Montrose, and Jay (Lora) Shepherd of Cortez. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Cassie, Kymberly, Stephanie, Travis, Pryce, Taylor, and Mark; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and one great-grand dog, Sophie.
Services will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 237 32 Rd in Grand Junction, CO, on Saturday July 21 at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Concerns of Police Survivors C.O.P.S., 2105 Winston Way #B, Montrose, CO 81401.
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