NORMA JEAN SHEPARD

Norma Jean Shepard, age 85, a former resident of Fort Scott, and more recently of Kingwood, Texas, died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010, at the Regent Care Center in Kingwood.

She was born Aug. 22, 1925, at DeLeon, Texas, the daughter of Ralph Dewitt Jones and Ina B. Butler Jones.

She married David R. Shepard on March 6, 1946, in Laredo, Texas. He preceded her in death on May 16, 2005.

Jean had worked for many years as a policy typist and computer operator for the Western Insurance Company.

Jean was Past Worthy Matron of the Olive Chapter No. 13 Order of Eastern Star, Past Royal Matron of the order of Amaranth Regal Court No. 10 of Fort Scott and had served as Past Grand Officer of the Order of Amaranth several times. She had held several offices in the Azrum Temple and had assisted with crippled children projects.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Fort Scott.

Survivors include a son, David Michael Shepard and wife, Linda, Laguna Beach, Calif.; three daughters, Kathryn Ann Shelton, Fort Scott, Kan.; Carol Jean Griffith and husband, David, Fort Scott, Kan.; and Ruth Elaine Cooney and husband, Michael, Houston, Texas.

Also surviving are six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son-in-law Frank Shelton and a brother, Glenn Jones.

Rev. Paul Babcock will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 20, 2010, at the First United Methodist Church.

Burial will follow in the U.S. National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Eastern Star Services will be conducted at 7 p.m., by the Olive Chapter No. 13 OES at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church or the Mirza Transportation Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kan., 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at www.cheneywitt.com.