Marjorie Winifred Allen Shepherd's Obituary
Marjorie Winifred Allen Shepherd was born May 8, 1927 to Narvel Leslie Allen and Marguerite Thorp Allen in Gooding, Idaho. She joined her Lord on May 2, 2017. Memorial services will be held at 2 PM in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home of Longview on Saturday, May 6, 2017 with entombment following in Lakeview Mausoleum. The family will receive friends from 1-2 PM prior to the service on Saturday.
Marjorie was reared on the family farm and attended Bliss, Idaho, schools where she graduated as Valedictorian. While in school she was Drum Major of the band and enjoyed playing basketball. She attended Boise, Idaho, Business University. Travel was an important venture for her before being employed by the Texas Amarillo Times Newspaper, where she met and later married “Shep”. They owned and operated the Shepherd Printing Company before moving to Grand Prairie, TX.
In August 1954 they moved to Longview with their two sons Richard and Jay. On their first Sunday in Longview they became members of the First Christian Church, where she was still an active member. Marjorie became active on committees for children, music, and property, and she was a member of the Cornerstone Class.
In September 1967 Marjorie was asked by the Board of Directors to donate her time as an administrator and counselor for the newly formed Council on Alcoholism. Eventually the Council became the East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse serving 14 counties with numerous paid employees providing services in counseling referral, education and information.
During the 22 years of service with the Council she attended educational studies with the Texas Commission on Alcoholism at U.T.; National Alcohol Abuse Council, Long Beach, CA.; San Antonio Social Services; Chicago, NIAAA and many local area studies. She retired May 1, 1989, as the Assistant Executive Director.
Beginning in 1979 and for 20 years Marjorie and Shep’s favorite exercise was Square and Round Dancing. As a hobby, she enjoyed growing a wide variety of plants in their “special” sunroom, where family members spent many happy hours.
She said, “Foremost in my life and my greatest love are my two remarkable Christian sons Richard and Jay Shepherd and their families.”
She was preceded in death by her husband, Benjamin F. “Shep” Shepherd, March 2009; her parents and her brother, Dean Allen of Bliss Idaho.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Richard “Rick” and Anna Marie Shepherd of Longview, and the Rev. Jay and Vivian Shepherd of Longview; grandchildren Alicia and Jay Wilson of Ticonderoga, NY, Benjamin and Jackie Shepherd of Longview, Leslie and Paul Marsh of Longview, Jamin and Lilah Shepherd of Longview, and Sarah and Erik Olson of Fort Worth; great grandchildren Grant, Caroline, and Claire Wilson, Lily Anna and Cy Shep Marsh and Marta Gianna Shepherd, and Aspen Ann Olson; sister Joy and husband Floyd Thomason of Idaho; brother Gary and wife Mary Allen of Wisconsin; nieces Susan Hall and Sharon Crocker, Valeria Shaw and Valeta Frederickson; nephews Randy Thomason, Jerrod, Kelvin, and Gordon Allen.
The family request that memorial donations be made in honor of Marjorie to the First Christian Church, 720 N Sixth St, Longview, TX 75601.
A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com
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