Richard Lewis Shepherd

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held for Richard Lewis Shepherd, 92, on Saturday, December 15, 2018, from 1-3 pm at Evangeline Funeral Home in New Iberia, LA. Entombment will follow at Beau Pre’ Mausoleum.

Richard passed away on Wednesday, November 7, 2018, at a Brookdale Memory Care Facility in Houston, TX, with his family by his side.

Richard, or “Shep” as most people knew him, was born June 16, 1926, in Franklin, LA, to Clifton Lewis Shepherd and Katie Richard Shepherd. The family moved to New Iberia when Richard was 5 where he attended public school and graduated from New Iberia Senior High. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Mary Maude Efurd for 60 years.In 1943 Richard was a welder in Orange, TX, at a shipyard where he built destroyer escorts for the Navy. He was employed with Tuboscope from 1944-1947. In January of 1948 Richard went to work for Southern Bell Telegraph Company in New Iberia. He retired with 35 years of service from South Central Bell Telephone Company in January 1983 at the early age of 56. After retiring he started his own business, Shep’s Telephone Service.

Richard was very outgoing, friendly and loved visiting and talking with everyone he met. Some may remember him riding his bicycle to and from work every day, rain or shine. He loved the outdoors and took his family on many camping road trips visiting State and National Parks creating wonderful memories his children will always treasure. He was very involved in Boy Scouts with his son and always supportive of whatever his children chose to do. Being the ultimate handyman who could fix anything, Richard was always willing to help others. He took care of his wife who had Alzheimer’s for 13 years in their home and not once did he complain even though that took a toll on him as it would anyone. He said he’d never put her in a nursing home and he didn’t which is testament to how much he loved her and the kind, patient, and compassionate man he was.

Richard is preceded in death by his wife Mary Maude Efurd Shepherd, and his parents Clifton Lewis Shepherd and Katie Richard Shepherd.

Richard is survived by his children Sherry (Larry) Heimgartner, Big Sandy, MT, Richard Wayne Shepherd, New Iberia, LA, Janice (Randall) David, Tomball, TX; grandchildren Tanya (Ray) Allen, Ft. Benton, MT, Melanie Taylor, Salt Lake City, UT, Keli (Chris) Touchet, Jennings, LA, Jason (Nicky) David, Cypress, TX; 5 great grandchildren, Katy (Tyler) Mosier, Eli, Meagan, Connor, Zach, 2 step grandchildren, Cali (Hardy) O’Hara, Kerby (Nick) Celeste; 4 great grandchildren, Trevor, Mikell, Emmery, and Izzy.

To honor Richard’s memory, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Association LA Chapter, 7732 Goodwood Blvd. Suite 110, Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Condolences can be expressed online at www.evangelinefuneralhome.com/NewIberia.