1923
2017
COLUMBIA - Ellen Hyry Sheppard was born January 28, 1923 in Champion, a small township in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Ellen’s parents emigrated from Finland around 1900. She was the youngest child and fifth daughter of ten children. Ellen served as valedictorian of her high school class. She moved to Washington, D.C. in 1942 to join the war effort as a secretary for the U.S. State Department. Ellen made lifelong friends in Washington and there met and married Bruce Alton Sheppard, a war veteran from Alabama.
Ellen and Bruce moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in the early 1950’s, where son Steven Neil and daughter Kathryn Ann were born. Bruce and Ellen moved to Jacksonville, FL in 1957, to Greer, SC in 1975 and later to Green Valley, AZ. Bruce was diagnosed with cancer in 1988 and after his death, Ellen lived with Kathy and her grandchildren.
Ellen’s friends and family were her greatest happiness throughout her life. Ellen was an avid reader and walker. She especially loved animals and was devoted to the family’s many cats and dogs.
Ellen is survived by her two children; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Ellen Sheppard, Christopher Austen Taylor, and Daron Lenore Taylor McKown (Rhoddy); and one great-granddaughter, Cora Lily McKown.
A celebration of Ellen’s life will be held on Saturday, January 21, at 3:00 p.m. in the sanctuary at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 3909 Forest Drive, Columbia S.C. 29204.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ellen’s honor may be made to the Friends of the Richland Library, https://www.richlandlibrary.com/friends-library, 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, S.C. 29201.
Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Dunbar Funeral Home - Devine.
1 Entry
January 18, 2017
Sandy Knowles
So very sorry to hear about your loss. It is never easy losing someone we love, but the bond we have with our mothers is special. Thinking of you.
Sandy
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