SHELDON E. SHEPHERD
AREA SPORTSMAN PASSES

Mr. Sheldon E. Shepherd, 88, of Hull, died at 1:45 a.m. Saturday (October 20, 2007) in Blessing Hospital.

Born March 26, 1919 in Hull, Sheldon was the son of Earl and Ella Mae Eckman Shepherd. He married Mabel McClain August 19, 1947 in Hull. She died April 19, 1958. He then married Fletta Jones on November 20, 1960 in Hull. She died May 3, 1993. He then married Hazel Melton on March 26, 2000. She survives in Olny, IL.

Sheldon Shepherd began his sports career at Hull High School playing baseball and basketball. His 1937 team was famous for their close brush with an Illinois state basketball championship. Sheldon was a catcher for the Brown Shoe Company team after high school and other area baseball teams. In 1958, Sheldon and his brother, Sherman, formed several youth teams. They coached, umpired, and even spearheaded the building of the present ball park in Hull. In the winter, Sheldon was an avid bowler and chaired the committee of the American Legion which brought a bowling alley to Hull. His love of youth sports also made him a mainstay at West Pike High School events, for which he was honored. Later golf became his sport activity along with heckling Cub fans.

Mr. Shepherd was a member of the United Baptist Church of Kinderhook where he served as Deacon Emeritus. He was a member of the Hull Masonic Lodge, Hull Lions Club, Hannibal Elks Club, and the Barry American Legion Post.

Sheldon was employed as the inspector for quality control at Electric Wheel Division of Firestone for 31 years retiring in 1981.

Surviving are three sons, Mike Shepherd of Hannibal, MO., Paul Shepherd of Charleston, SC., and Tom Shepherd of Conway, SC.; a daughter, Debra Armentrout and her husband Terry of Bradford, IL.; six grandchildren; eight great grandchild; a brother, Sherman Shepherd of the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy; two sisters, Verna Johnson of Manassas, VA., and Mary Ann Hammitt Heitman and her husband Richard of Pittsfield, IL.; plus several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 wives, four sisters, Helen Shelton, Wilma McCallister, Mildred Waggoner, and Dorothy Torrens; and two brothers, Robert and Richard Shepherd.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at 10:00 in the United Baptist Church of Kinderhook by Rev. Greg Maize. Burial will be in the Payson New Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Tuesday evening from 4:00 until 7:00 at the Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home in Quincy and Wednesday morning from 9:00 until the time of services at the church in Kinderhook.

Memorials may be made to the United Baptist Church of Kinderhook.