Ray Raymond Shepherd Jr.

Shepherd, Ray R. Jr., age 83, of Richmond, passed away on May 23, 2011. He is survived by his devoted wife, Rachel Ferrell Lewis Shepherd and his three children: Suzanne Shepherd Davenport (Bradfute); Christie Minton Peace (Jim); and Jonathan William Shepherd (Nan Leake). He was predeceased by his first wife and mother to his children, Frances Ann Koontz Shepherd. Born in Richmond, VA on January 6, 1928, to Sally Cox and Ray Raymond Shepherd, he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and attended the University of Richmond, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. After working for his father’s accounting firm, he entered the real estate business in 1958 and worked at Blake & Bane; G. Ray Edwards; Kinsey, Purdue & McCall and the City of Richmond Assessor’s office. In 1975, he and Sam Crane formed Shepherd & Crane, a real estate appraisal firm. He was a member of the American Society of Real Estate Appraisers and president of the Richmond Chapter. He was a founding member of Christ Lutheran Church, where he served as trustee and Council member. He was a long-time member of the Lakeside Lions Club, where he served as President. He helped organize, and then served as president of the Lions of Virginia Hearing Foundation, located at the University of Virginia. He was a life member of the United States Power Squadron and served as Commander of the Richmond Chapter. For many years, he taught boating courses for the Squadron, as well as the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Until recently, he was a member of Willow Oaks Country Club and an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing and boating. In addition to his wife and three children, other survivors include his two stepdaughters, Melissa Swenson and Annette Capocelli (Dino); grandchildren, Christopher Minton (Missy), Marianne Minton Hartquist (Cory); Kate, John, Stephen, Sarah and Maria Davenport; Heather and Holly Swenson; Dominic and Vanessa Capocelli; and great granddaughters, Olivia and Sydney Minton. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 7809 Woodman Road, Richmond, VA 23228. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 27th at 10 am at Christ Lutheran Church, with interment following at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Condolences may be left at www.Woodyfuneralhomeparham.com.

Arrangements under the direction of Woody Funeral Home-Parham, Richmond, VA.