Mary Alice Chambliss Sheppard

Mary Sheppard, a woman of many talents and a great mind before Alzheimer’s hit. She wrote poetry, was an artist, and a great public speaker, sought out by many.

She loved her Lord Jesus Christ, her family, and her Church family, First Baptist Church of Crane. She taught children, young people, and adults the Bible and was an excellent Bible student and teacher. She studied to show herself approved unto God, her reasonable service.
Mary loved to sing and was always in the choir. She led WMU (Women’s Missionary Union) and helped with GA’s (Girls’ Auxiliary), was a Brownie leader (the younger Girl Scouts back in the day), and always pitched in to help wherever needed.

Mary was in the Crane Study Club and Toastmasters for a time. A brilliant mind, she always finished the daily crossword puzzles.

Her artwork was amazing, too, and she drew and designed many tombstones in cemeteries all over the great state of Texas and beyond, working with her husband of 65 years, Charles Sheppard at Sheppard Memorials.

Mary set up and ran a small store in Crane called Trilogy as a way to give her Mom a job in Crane and get her to move here as she got older.

Mary was a force to be reckoned with and there was nothing she could not do once she set her mind to it. She was a talented seamstress, making most of hers and her daughters’ clothes. She will be sorely missed.

Matthew 25:23 – His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the Joy of the thy Lord.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Vergie Jeanett Midkiff Chambliss, her father, Seth Alexander Chambliss, her brother, Roy Lex Chambliss, and her beloved daughter, Mitzi Lee Sheppard.

Mary is survived by her faithful husband of 65 years, Charles Royce Sheppard; and her daughter, Nikki Lin Sheppard. Also survived by her sister, who she loved so much, Teresa Jeanett Chambliss McCanlies; and many Midkiff cousins, Sheppard in-laws, family and friends.

The family will be receiving friends on Monday, February 22, 2021, at the Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home in Crane from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at the First Baptist Church with Reverends Tommy Parker and David Evans officiating. Burial will follow in the Crane County Cemetery. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home.