Mary Alice Shepherd

Mary Alice Shepherd died in Dallas, Texas on Saturday, April 11, 2020. She passed away peacefully in her sleep from the kind of things that just make a body quit on us after 96 years. Mary always liked to be in control. Accordingly, she selected Easter weekend as an appropriate time to cross to the other side.

The fourth of six children, Mary Alice (Murchland) Shepherd burst on the scene in her usual inimitable fashion on July 1, 1923. Her happy parents were Nora and Pete Murchland of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Mary spent her formative years in Ft. Wayne surrounded by siblings and love. She graduated from Southside High School and immediately began working at Lincoln National Life Insurance Company using the business and bookkeeping skills she learned at Southside.

In 1942, at the age of 19, Mary Alice, a dark-haired beauty, met a tall, handsome Texan on a blind date. Mark Shepherd, Jr. was an ensign in the Navy. She was smitten. They were quickly engaged but, as often was the case during WW II, their plans were put on hold. Mary kept the home fires burning in Ft. Wayne while she waited for Mark to return from a tour of duty in the Pacific theater. They married in 1945. Both were 22 years old.

In 1948, on a trip to Dallas brought about by the death of Mary’s father-in-law, Mark met with Pat Haggerty of Geophysical Services Incorporated (GSI). Mark had recently completed a master’s degree in electrical engineering and he readily accepted an opportunity to join GSI and return to Texas. Mary and Mark relocated to Dallas where he began his career with this promising company.

In 1951, the company name was changed to Texas Instruments. For the next forty-two years, Mary Alice was a consummate corporate wife and mom to their three children. She was a skillful entertainer and a clever conversationalist. Mary loved Dallas and was outgoing and friendly. While Mark was busy helping to build a company, she honed her social skills in many organizations including Dallas Woman’s Club, Dallas Garden Club, The Standard Club, Thalia Dance Club and Northwood Club. Later, she traveled the world with Mark many times over for TI and various other business and government pursuits.

After Mark’s retirement in 1988, they enjoyed a second home in Santa Fe, New Mexico where family and friends visited often. Since 1996, they made their residence on a large ranch near Quitman, TX. Most importantly, Mary Alice was a highly devoted wife to her husband Mark for sixty-three years until he passed away in 2009. Their love was a joyous background for raising their children, as well as an inspiration to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mary Alice had a passion for gardening, stylish clothes, her many pets and shopping. Known for her loyalty, her infectious smile and a feisty spirit, she most certainly lived life on her own terms. Though often wrong, she was never, ever in doubt. Despite their material success, she and Mark never forgot their modest backgrounds, instilled during the depression. Mary Alice was a beauty until the very end.

Mary Alice is survived by three children, Debra Shepherd Robinson and husband, Rowland K. Robinson; Marykay Shepherd; and Marc B. Shepherd and wife, Teresa. Mimi, as she was affectionately known, was the proud grandmother of Kathryn “Kate” Robinson Swail, her daughters Mary Madison and Tennyson; Brooke Robinson Howe, her two sons Donny and Shepherd; and Shepherd King Robinson and wife, Hillary.

Words cannot express how she will be missed.

Her life will be celebrated at a small family private graveside service in Dallas on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home with a private interment to follow. Please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice in memory of Mary Alice.