September 3, 1946 – May 23, 2020
Mary Ellen Shepherd, 73, passed away Saturday morning, May 23, 2020 at her home in Sheridan, surrounded by her loving family. Born September 3, 1946 in Wartburg, Tenn., she was the daughter of the late William F. and Laura U. (Bunch) Isham.
She was a 1964 graduate of Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis. Mary worked for RCA for nine years before leaving the company to start a family.
Mary loved being a grandmother. She sewed and quilted, making sure all her children and grandchildren had their own individual handmade quilts. She also loved making wedding dresses for the family. Like most grandmothers, her family was her everything. She was a second mom to her kids’ friends when they were growing, and the bonus grandma to her grandchildren’s friends. However, unlike most grandmothers, Mary had a passion for fast cars. This was no idle passion; grandma was an actual street racer in her younger years, something that her grandchildren took great pride in. Not everyone has a “cool grandma” who raced cars back in the day. There was just something about the older muscle cars that couldn’t be put into words. Ask any of the grandkids and they will tell you that grandma’s favorites were the ’69 and ’73 Charger.
As Mary’s family started to grow, she knew it was time to go from power to practicality. The Hemi engines became station wagons and vans, the races turned into family road trips, and the memories of faster days turned into adventures that you wish would slow down and last forever. Mary loved to travel and managed to visit the lower 48 during her trips around the country. Hawaii and Alaska were the only ones that got away. She was also an avid reader and loved her animals.
Mary was a member of the Wesleyan Christian Church of Indianapolis.
Mary is survived by the love of her life, Clarence A. Shepherd. She and Clarence were married on November 6, 1965. She is also survived by her son, Clarence D. Shepherd, Beech Grove; three daughters, Mary Lucille “Lucy” White (Cory), Sheridan, Lora E. Ridge (Joe), Sheridan, and Rachel Leah Shepherd, Lebanon; eight grandchildren, Clarence T. Shepherd (Rebecca), Makyle Shepherd, Noah White, Caleb Miller, Haleen Shepherd, Isaac Scaggs, Zora Shepherd and Halley White; one brother, Ronald Isham (Sandy), Martinsville; and three sisters, Inez Stewart (David), Indianapolis, Betty Isham, Indianapolis, and Brenda Sallee, Indianapolis.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her grandson, Aaron Scaggs.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at Crown View Cemetery in Sheridan. Reverend J.C. Phillips will be officiating.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Kercheval Funeral Home in Sheridan. Condolences: kerchevalfuneralhome.com