Valerie Ann (Jones) Shephard, 79, of Pendleton, passed away at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, September 24, 2016, in the comfort of her own home. She was born in Bristol, England, on September 6, 1937, to the late Brinley and Phyllis May (Fream) Jones.
A Bristolian, Valerie was raised in Southern England and received her education at St. Anne’s School for Girls. At the age of 27, she became a naturalized US citizen in 1964. She met the love of her life, Charles “Mike” Shephard on February 26, 1983, and the two were happily married exactly three years later on February 26, 1986. They settled into their home in 1995 and have permanently resided there together in Hancock County. Valerie proudly worked as a bookkeeper for the British, US Civil Service and other private firms. In addition, she was an entrepreneur; owning and operating Elegant Cleaning Services from 1991 until she retired in 2002.
Dedicated to her family, Valerie enjoyed hosting and cooking for get-togethers with their extended blended families. Blessed with a green thumb, she loved watching the hummingbirds visit her beautiful “English Gardens” that she cultivated. An avid reader, Valerie also enjoyed working the daily crossword puzzles, collecting coins, listening to Willie Nelson sing and cheering on her Indiana Pacers.
Survivors include her loving husband, Mike Shephard of Pendleton; children, David Moretsky (wife, Sylvia) of Dallas, Tx.; Jan Binhack (husband, Chris) of Monrovia; Timothy O’Meara (wife, Angela) of Greenfield; stepdaughters, Candace VanHook (husband, James) of Somerset, Kentucky and Susanne Davee (husband, Brian) of Monrovia; sister-in-law, Patricia Jones of Bristol, England; grandchildren, Jennifer Moretsky, Jonathan Moretsky (wife, Elizabeth), Jessica Binhack, Kyle Binhack (wife, Jamie), Erica, Joshua and Jacob O’Meara, Jared and Colin VanHook, Megan and Marissa McClure; four great-grandchildren; and her loving canine fur baby, Fancy the Pug.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Michael John Jones.
A Memorial Celebration of Life Service was held with family and close friends beginning at 3 p.m., on Tuesday, September 27, at the Shephard’s Residence.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association or to your local Humane Society. Contributions may be sent to the funeral home and will be forwarded on to the appropriate charity.
Cremation Arrangements were entrusted to Light Memorial & Funeral Chapel in Monrovia.
To share a favorite story, send the family an online condolence or light a candle in Valerie’s memory visit lightmemorial.com.
