James L. Shepherd

James L. Shepherd, resident of Fountain Hills, gently passed away in his sleep at Fountain View Village after a short battle against melanoma.

He was highly regarded by many and was an active member in The Men’s Club, Noon Kiwanis, VFW, American Legion and Home Delivered Meals.

Jim always strived to make life a better place for those he knew and the strangers that he may have helped.

Jim’s life began in Craig, Colo. on Feb. 25, 1923. He was the eldest of four sons born to Mark and Elda Shepherd. During Jim’s younger years, he was active in DeMolay and Boy Scouts, achieving the Eagle Scout rank at age 18, an honor held by Neil Armstrong, Gerald Ford, Bill Gates and many others.

After attending Mesa Jr. College and University of Colorado, Jim enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942 and embarked to the South Seas on his 21st birthday. He served during WWII in Saipan, Okinawa and China.

His story can be read in the 2009 edition of “Since You Asked.” He was especially proud of being a China Marine, organizing the first reunion in 1976 of his company, which then became an annual event at different locations in the U.S.

For many years Jim attended the Marine Corps birthday on November 10 held at the Arizona Country Club and was recently recognized during this event as the oldest living China Marine in the area.

After his honorable discharge in 1946, Jim married Marie Sandberg of California and returned to Craig, Colo. to raise their family.

Jim joined his brothers – Bob, Albert and John Shepherd – to work in his father’s plumbing and heating business, Shepherd & Sons Plumbing and Heating. He eventually became president of the company and was proud to represent it as the oldest business in the community for more than 88 years.

Jim joined Kiwanis in Craig and continued to be active in the organization after his move to Fountain Hills. In 1953 Jim became a lieutenant governor for Kiwanis in the State of Colorado.

He also was a member of the Masonic Lodge, reaching the 33rd degree. He was later invited to become a Shriner in northwest Colorado. He organized the Shriner’s golf tournament for over 10 years to help with fund-raising efforts for the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, Calif.

He received the “Shriner of the Year Award” in 2005.

He was appointed by Colorado State Governor Roy Romer to the State Examining Board of Plumbers and served from 1985 to 1993.

In 1961 he was elected the first board president of the Yampa Valley Golf Association in Craig and played a key role in the development and opening of the Yampa Valley Golf Course. After playing poker and going fishing, golf became his main passion, normally scoring below his age in his 80s and 90s. During his years as a golfer Jim achieved three holes-in-one.

Jim and Marie purchased a home in Fountain Hills as snowbirds in 1999, but after Marie’s death, Jim became a full-time resident in 2002. Soon after, he was fortunate to find his “second” love in Jan Lawrence, who remained by his side at the time of his death.

He is survived by three children, Steve (Bev), Claudia and Marty (Darlene) and four grandchildren – Jennifer Geoffrey, Jimmy and Tammy – along with four great-grandchildren and two brothers, John and Albert Shepherd.

Services will be held at the Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church, 13001 N. Fountain Hills Blvd., on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your favorite charity in remembrance of Jim. In Jim’s memory, Sage Hospice will be planting 10 trees as a perpetual living remembrance.

Semper Fidelis.