Jean Shepherd

Jean Shepherd always made time for friends and family. Her kindness and the love she showed were just a few of her very special qualities. Her personality shone like the sun – warm and compassionate for those around her. She made everyone feel special and left her mark on all those she came in contact with.

The decade of the 1920s was a wonderful one for all of the arts and literature in America. Technology grew – the country shrunk – as the popularity of automobiles, radios and movies exploded.

In Shelby, Michigan, on a farm surrounded by lush woodlands, another wonderful event was taking place. William and Ivah (Morse) Wood were welcoming the birth of their daughter, Jean. Born in her grandmother’s home, Jean and her parents would soon move to Grand Rapids where her father was a car salesman. However, in 1933 during the Depression, Jean, Bud, Carol, and their parents moved to her grandparents farm in Mount Pleasant, where her brother Dick was born.

Jean was a precocious young lady with many talents. It was said later that she seemed to have a “sixth sense”. As a young child, she would tell her mother to prepare more food or set an extra place because she “knew” company was coming – and she was usually right. She loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. She was a member of the Acappella Choir in high school. This gifted adolescent also started playing the piano, organ and violin – and she couldn’t read music. She had a wonderful “ear” for music and after hearing and seeing a tune being played, it became etched in her memory. She could then play the song over and over without ever making a mistake. These prodigious musical talents allowed her to attend the Interlochen Music Camp for a summer while in high school.

Ever the strong-minded person, Jean moved into town during her junior and senior years so she could work at a dentist’s office after school. She lived with the Axtel family and became good friends with their daughter, Corky, a friendship that would last her lifetime. During the summer of her junior year, Jean was working in Traverse City. While on her way to work, Jean had a flat tire on her bicycle. As she walked her bicycle to the gas station, two young men were standing outside, drinking cokes. One’s name was Jim and the other was Dale Shepherd. Jim asked Dale who the cute blonde girl was and Dale responded that it was “the girl I’m going to marry”. Jim asked when he had met her. Dale’s response was, I’ve never met her before. Dale fixed the flat tire and asked Jean out on a date. A year later, Jean graduated from Mount Pleasant High School on June 11, 1942, and two days later married Dale Shepherd on June 13, 1942.

The couple honeymooned near Houghton Lake, and had to retake all the wedding pictures when they returned – the original ones had not turned out. In October of 1942, Dale enlisted in the military and would stay there for three years. On June 16, 1943, Jean gave birth to their son, David, in Traverse City. While Dale was serving overseas during WWII, Jean and David moved to Pontiac, MI. She worked for General Motors building army vehicles for the war effort. After the war Dale returned home. The family then moved to Muskegon and daughter Suzette (Suki) was born on May 15, 1949. In 1953 the family moved to Grand Rapids to the home they built on Reeds Lake Blvd. While living in Grand Rapids, Jean worked for General Motors – Fisher Body Division. In addition to their own two children, Dale and Jean made a home for two foster children from the D.A. Blodgett Home in Grand Rapids, giving them the love and guidance they needed.

As a girl, Jean’s parents had instilled in her the importance of being well traveled. She and Dale put this advice to good use and were a great traveling duo. When asked if she would like to go somewhere, Jean would often respond, “Give me five minutes to get my toothbrush”. The couple bought a motor home in 1975. Dale was the pilot and Jean was the navigator, because she was the one with great map reading skills. One of the highlights of their travels together was a trip to San Francisco. Jean loved seeing the vendors lining the streets and piers, riding the cable cars, and indulging in some of her favorite foods – lobster and oysters. They made a special point of driving over the Golden Gate Bridge, because Dale had sailed under the bridge when he came back from overseas. Not being fussy, Jean’s favorite place on earth was “anywhere there was water”. After their retirement, they would spend the winters on Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg and the summers on Lake Goshorn in Saugatuck.

Faith was essential to Jean’s life. She was a member of the Bay Point Christian Church in St. Petersburg, FL and was described as a true Christian. This faith also carried over into her love for her family. She was portrayed as a Pied Piper around children and her older grandchildren called her a “Groovy Grandma”. This “Groovy Grandma” loved to hear and tell good jokes. Jean’s most cherished possessions were her faith in God and her family.

Jean E. (Wood) Shepherd died Monday, September 1, 2003 at Holland Community Hospital. She was 81 years old. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Dale; children, David Shepherd of Grand Rapids, MI and Suzette (Suki) Shepherd – Heistand and Harold Heistand of Mount Pleasant; four grandchildren – Misti and Terry Sherman, Robin and Richard Goldfeder, Matthew Shepherd, and Leah Shepherd; sister and brother, Carol and Ralph Leonard of Helena, MT and Richard B. and Sandra Wood of Mount Pleasant, MI; brother and sisters-in-law Lloyd and Sue Mox of DeWitt MI, Marge and Joe Carland of Bay City, MI and Jean and Lary Schlaack of Spruce, MI. Also several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, September 6, 2003 at the Community Church of Douglas, 6780 Wiley Rd., Douglas, MI with the Rev. Dennis J. De Witt officiating. Arrangements are by the Mulder Chapel, Dykstra Funeral Homes, 188 West 32nd Street. Visitation and luncheon will follow the service. To read Jean's complete life story, share a memory, send flowers, or make a memorial contribution to the Jean E. Shepherd Memorial Fund, please visit her personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com.

Jean Shepherd always had a song in her heart – how quiet it will be now that she is gone.