10/10/27 ~ 1/12/03
Vernon Evan Shepherd, age 75, passed away at the American Fork Hospital, surrounded by his family, on January 12, 2003.
He was born October 10, 1927 in Alpine, Utah, the third of four children, of Evan and Dora Burgess Shepherd. He was a citizen of Alpine his entire life. He attended elementary school in Alpine and he graduated from American Fork High School. He also attended vocational school in Orem, as well as teaching masonry classes to other students attending there.
He felt a great sense of patriotism for his country and he served in the United States Army during World War II until the war ended. He married his sweetheart, Cleo Beck, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on September 27, 1948. They made their home in Alpine, where they raised their family. After being married for ten years they were blessed with five beautiful children.
He began employment at the Geneva Steel Company as a brick mason in the open hearth and worked there for 35 years until his retirement in 1987. Service to his family, his fellowmen and his Heavenly Father were very important to him throughout his entire life. He served in numerous church positions including, Scout Master, Teacher in various organizations, Councilor and President in the MIA, Elders Quorum Presidency, a councilor in the Bishopric as well as Bishop in the Alpine First Ward. He served on the Alpine Stake High Council and as a Councilor in the Alpine Stake Presidency.
He is survived by his wife Cleo; two sons, Scott (Shannon), American Fork; Jon (Sherri), Highland; two daughters, Becky Walker (Joe), Pleasant Grove; and Angie Maldonado, (Ramon), Salt Lake City; foster daughter, Juanita Hughes (Jim), Elko, Nevada; nineteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren; two sisters, Lois Beck and Dona Mae Carter, both of Alpine. He is preceded in death by a daughter, Julie Hunter (Tom and Suzy), by his parents, and a brother, Duane.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 18, 2003 at 12:00 noon at the Mountainville Second Ward LDS Chapel (The Old Red Church). 165 North 100 East, Alpine, Utah .Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, January 17 at the Anderson and Sons Mortuary, 49 East 100 North, American Fork, and at the church on Saturday in Alpine from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. prior to the services. Internment will be at the Alpine City Cemetery with Military Honors by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.