Donald Meade Shepherd

Donald Meade Shepherd, age 90, of Kingston TN, went to meet his Lord and Savior to receive his heavenly reward on Monday, March 27, 2017. Don was born in Arlington, VA. August 10, 1926, to parents Philip Overton Shepherd and Shirley Lewis Shepherd. As a youngster he loved learning and spent countless hours in the Smithsonian Museum. Summers were often spent with relatives in Avon Park, Florida, around Lake Byrd where he learned to swim. Later in life he continued to visit Lake Byrd during treasured annual family gatherings. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from June 1944 through June 1946. After the war, he attended Denver University and graduated in 1950 with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering. At Denver University he also met his wife Leola Pope. They married in August 1948. The newlywed couple developed a lifelong affinity for square dancing, hiking, travel and back-road driving adventures. After graduation, he began his career as a design engineer with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in Denver, Colorado. In 1954 he accepted a position with Union Carbide Corporation-Nuclear Division beginning a career that would span over 30 years working at all three Oak Ridge Plant sites before retiring from Martin Marietta. After the couple moved to Oak Ridge their first son, Scott Lyle Shepherd was born three months later. After eight years, they adopted their second son, Sean Philip Shepherd and then nine months later adopted their daughter, Vay Anne Shepherd Davis. During the years in Oak Ridge, the Shepherds pursued several other activities such as playing bridge, ballroom dancing, boating, and water skiing, various church activities, and home entertaining. He also loved woodworking, creating many hand carved figures, as well as furniture around his home. In anticipation of retiring, Don and Leola moved from Oak Ridge to the shores of Watts Bar Lake near Kingston. While maintaining close relationships with long-time friends in Oak Ridge, they were blessed with development of new friends and activities, particularly through their connections with Luminary United Methodist Church in Ten Mile. After Leola’s death, Don remained active at Luminary. Over time, Don and longtime friend, Nancy Carman, discovered their shared love of hiking, camping, and travel. Don and Nancy were married December 28, 2014. They remained active in the church, spent many days hiking and camping on Roan Mountain and Indian Boundary. They also took long hikes in the Grand Canyon and traveled to Hawaii with family. Don was preceded in death by his wife Leola, parents Philip and Shirley Shepherd, sister Barbara Bower and her husband John, sister Anne (Nancy) Dovedot and her husband Ed, and brother Philip O. (Bill) Shepherd Jr and his wife Marion. Don is survived by his wife, Nancy Carman Shepherd, her son Mark, wife Melissa, grandson Joseph, and son Matt, wife Lisa. Don’s son Scott and wife Debbie Shepherd, their daughters Angela Shepherd and Danielle Shepherd Gallaher, husband Nick, great grandchildren Kaylie and Jason. Don’s son Sean Shepherd, wife Sandra Shepherd. Don’s daughter Vay Anne Shepherd Davis and grandson James (Trey) Davis. Nephew Jack Bower and wife Connie and nephew Jeff Dovedot. The family will receive friends from 2:30 to 4pm on Saturday April 8, 2017 at Luminary United Methodist Church, 3401 River Road, Ten Mile, TN. A celebratory memorial service led by Pastor Chuck Griffin will follow with burial at the adjacent Luminary Cemetery after the service. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that any memorials be made to either Luminary United Methodist Church or to Mission of Hope International at www.mohintl.org/donate (Select the box labeled Angie Shepherd under “Sponsor a Missionary”) to donate using PayPal. If you wish to donate via mail, please make your check payable to Mission of Hope (with Angie Shepherd on the memo line) and mail to: Mission of Hope International, Inc. P.O. Box 884 Gardner, MA 01440.

Donald Meade Shepherd

August 10, 1926 - March 27, 2017