Grace Marye Shepard

Grace Marye Read Shepard, 96, of Little Rock went to be with her heavenly Father on December 1, 2019. Born in Sweetwater, Texas, April 18, 1923, she was preceded in death by her adoptive parents, Kenneth and Francis Read, her husband of 64 years, Roy Shepard, and two grandsons, Jordan Shepard and Steven Shepard. She is survived by her daughter, Bette Karen Anders (Mike) and two sons, Ken Shepard (Nancy) and Don Shepard. She was "Meemaw" (a.k.a. grandma) to 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Raised in Mena, Ark. she graduated co-valedictorian of Mena High School in 1940. Following high school, Grace and her widowed mom moved to Little Rock. While visiting her cousin Carl, who was hospitalized at Camp Robinson during WWII, she met Roy Herbert Shepard, a soldier who was recovering from a broken back. Grace and Roy were married in 1946 and she worked for several government agencies before becoming a full-time mom and, ultimately, working for and retiring from Social Security Services in 1985. At home with three children, Grace's life was filled with church activities, annual family vacations, and countless camping and boating outings on Lake Ouachita. She and Roy were faithful members of Calvary Baptist Church. For the grandchildren, Meemaw's home was a favorite place to be where many special memories were made, especially for birthdays and holidays. As one granddaughter recently observed, Grace's was a servant's heart and her prayers and love for each of her children and grandchildren became a beautiful legacy for the Shepard women to follow. Her celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham, Little Rock, Ark. with a visitation at 10:00 and funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander, Ark. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.