Tracey Wendell Shepherd, Jr. Obituary (1927 - 2006)

Our beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, age 79, passed away November 20, 2006 of complications from Parkinson’s Disease. Tracey was born June 6, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Leone Rosella Sorensen and Tracey Wendell Shepherd. He was the oldest of four children-one brother and two sisters-Richard Shepherd, Joan Welsh and Carolyn Hills. Tracey graduated from South High in 1944. He married his high school sweetheart, Donna Beth Purdie August 19, 1948 in the Salt Lake Temple. Donna and Tracey were married for 57 years when Donna passed away June 14, 2006. Tracey is survived by his five children: Wendy Tillmann (Ruedi), Jil Lambert (Rick), Lori Edmunds (Dean), Darren Shepherd (Michelle) and Steve Shepherd, (Alisa); 21 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Tracey was preceded in death by his wife, Donna and his grandbaby, Madison. Tracey retired from Questar after 43 years of service. He is a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in which he served as Bishop; and he especially cherished his callings with the youth. Tracey has a firm testimony of his Savior and loves his family dearly. Tracey had many loving friends that he bonded with though his love of gardening and golf. He was called at one time to serve as a gardener at the Jordan River Temple. He loved helping his neighbors and friends with their gardens, and when he resided at the Cornerstone Condominiums he was nicknamed “The Good Shepherd”. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, November 25, 2006, 11:00 a.m. at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway (10600 S.), where friends and family may call Friday, November 24, 2006 from 6-8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service. Interment, Larkin Sunset Gardens, 10600 S. 1700 E. A special thanks to all of dad’s health care workers at “Legacy Assisted Living” and “Crosslands” and to LifePath Hospice Care. We love and appreciate you all for your love and care for our father. Also, a thank you to his nurse, Glen, who sang old time songs with dad. Dad, would mouth every word.