Obituary of Charlie Shepherd

Charlie Shepherd, 92, of 4268 Salisbury Road, Bemus Point, passed away Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at Heritage Green Rehab & Skilled Nursing. Charlie was born July 14, 1922 in Hindman, KY. He was the son of the late Alec and Abigail Gayheart Shepherd. Charlie was educated in a settlement school in Knott County, KY. He also received valuable work skills as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, where he worked on projects in Idaho and Washington State. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from 1945 to 1946. Following his discharge from the Army, he worked on the railroad in Pennsylvania prior to becoming a molder and later a pattern maker for Chautauqua Hardware in Jamestown. He then worked for Hills Trucking in Fredonia before returning to Chautauqua Hardware and his subsequent retirement. Charlie was a member of the Jamestown Free Methodist Church and the Church of God in Buffalo. He was an avid gardener, beekeeper and member of the Chautauqua County Beekeeping Association, and a lover of animals, especially his goats and dogs. Surviving is his wife of 69 years, Bertha M. Slagle Shepherd, whom he married January 15, 1945 in Savannah, GA; a daughter, Sharon (Norman) Hills of Fredonia; two sons: Edward (JoEllen) Shepherd of Ellery Center and Don (Judy) Shepherd of Redrock, AZ; 12 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and 5 great- great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Lillian Lamper of Muncy, PA; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday in the Lind Funeral Home. Pastor Scott Lord will officiate. Burial will be in Fluvanna Cemetery. Friends will be received for two hours prior to the service, from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Rd., Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256; or to the Ellery Center Fire Dept., 4400 Dutch Hollow Rd., Bemus Point, NY 14712.