LYLE MARSHAL SHEPARD

Lyle passed away at the Ronan Saint Luke’s Convalescent home on Thursday, August 20. 

He was 90 years old. Lyle was born in Larslan, Mont. to Archibald Shepard and Beatrice Harrison Shepard in 1924. He was born into a family of 12. At age 18 he joined the Army and served in WWII. 

During his stint in the Army he became a medic and traveled throughout Europe. After he was discharged he married Lanorah Hathaway.

He did various jobs: Farm work, logging, building Hungry Horse Dam, Lake County Bridge Crew, and various lumber mills. 

He retired from the Champion Lumber mill after 27 years as a millwright. 

Lyle and Lanorah made their home in Missoula where they raised their four children: Lyle (JR), Frank (Bobbie), Sherry, and Jay. After Lyle’s retirement they moved to the Mission Valley to be closer to his family and enjoy the beauty of the valley and mountains.

Lyle was well known and loved in the Mission Valley. 

He could always be found at local restaurants having breakfast or pie and coffee. All of the waitresses knew him and were extremely fond of him. They learned fast to keep his coffee cup full and hot. 

His favorite stop was Connie’s Countryside Café where they knew him and he knew most of their customers. 

He spent many hours just visiting and enjoying the company of others. Some were friends, family and neighbors, but most they would be talking about the good ole days. 

He was easy to talk to and always had a sweet smile and a twinkle in those baby blue eyes. 

He was always dressed to the nines with his pressed white shirt, white cowboy hat and shiny cowboy boots.

Lyle also enjoyed fishing, hunting, rock hunting, driving in the mountains, and tinkering. 

He was always tinkering with scrap wood and enjoyed making beautiful storage boxes. Some were custom made and given away. 

I believe that he just loved to use his power tools.

The most powerful thing in Lyle’s life was his devotion to the truth and the teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. 

Even while he was in the nursing home he had the weekly talks piped into his telephone so he could stay involved and up to date. 

You could often find him in front of his roaring wood stove studying the Bible and reading the Watchtower or Awake with his magnifying glass.

He was preceded in death by his wife Lanorah, father Archibald Shepard, and mother Beatrice Shepard, and sisters: Ruth Shepard, and Marion Shepard Hall, and brothers: Charles Shepard, Harley Shepard and Eugene Shepard.

Lyle is survived by his children: Lyle Jr. (JR) Shepard and his wife Terri, Frank (Bobbie) Shepard and his wife Jan, Sherry, and Jay Shepard; his sisters: Bernice Mackey, Laura (Babe) Waln and husband Lowell, and his brothers: Howard (Mack) Shepard and wife Donna, Cecil Shepard and wife Adel, Lee Shepard, and Leslie (Les) Shepard. He also had numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. 

The family would like to warmly thank Dr. Viscarra, the home health nurses, the nurses at the convalescent home and his special friends for their wonderful service and special attention. 

Memorial will be held Friday at 4 p.m. at the Polson Jehovah’s Witness Meeting Hall.

A potluck will follow immediately at the golf course in Polson.