Laverne Ruth Shepherd, 87, of Cape Coral, FL, passed away on Friday, June 16, 2017, at the Hope Hospice House. She was born in Indianapolis, IN and moved to Florida in 1989 from Greenwood, IN.
She spent twenty-five years working as an accountant for Dow Chemical. She was a wonderful wife and mother of four children. She was a member of St Barnabas Catholic Church in Indianapolis, IN and she was a member of Holy Family Church in St. Petersburg, FL. Laverne also attended St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Port Charlotte, FL. She was a lifetime member of the Florida Mobile Home Association.
Laverne loved spending time with her family, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She thoroughly enjoyed spending Holidays with family. She was an all around happy person to all of her family and friends. She loved joking, had a great wit, liked having fun and enjoyed teasing those around her.
She enjoyed bowling, Bingo, card playing, going to Casinos, spending time at the lake and taking vacations. If you met her, you were friends. She was someone that opened her arms to family and friends and if you needed help, she was there for you.
Laverne was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Lillie May (Kramer) Lohman; her husband of sixty-five years, Leslie Shepherd; her sisters, Dorothy (Gil) Alfrey, Norma (Bob) McMillian and Velma (Tom) Williams; and her brother, Roy Lohman, Jr. She is survived by her son, David (Rita) Shepherd of Indianapolis, IN; daughters, Theresa (Larry) Ginsberg of Port Charlotte, FL, Joyce Shepherd of Cape Coral, FL and Nancy Ailes of Arcadia, FL; brother, Richard (Shirley) Lohman of Indianapolis, IN; brother-in-law, Vernon (Mary Jane) Shepherd of Brownsburg, IN; twelve grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and numerous friends.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00AM on Thursday, June 22, 2017, at St Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, 1441 Spear St, Port Charlotte, FL 33948. She will be interred with her husband at Sarasota National Cemetery on Friday, July 14, 2017 at 10:00 am. Guests planning on attending should arrive at 9:45 am.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, that a donation in her name be made to the Hope Hospice (Donate.HopeHCS.org) or to the Dementia Society of America (dementiasociety.org).
Laverne was a wonderful person. She was my 2nd mother when I was growing up. she let me vacation with the family. She even allowed me to move when I needed a place to stay. I will forever love her and be connected. To this family as Nancy and I are forever best friends.
She was a wonderful lady and I am sure she will be a smiling angel. Bless her and you at this time.
Aunt Lavern was a very good woman. If I was not at home or the Olympia Club growing up, I was with my grandma who lived with Laverne and Les. I spent a large amount of time there. Our families went on many vacations together and spent a lot of time together at the lake. I will miss her very much.
When Travis was small she was known as the TicTac lady because she always had a box and he knew it. Share some with Jesus and put in a good word for me. We love you!!!
Laverne was one of the finest ladies that I have ever met. She was a real “people person” who masterfully made people around her laugh and enjoy her friendship. Laverne loved her family so much. Laverne enjoyed life and her friendships. Laverne is already being dearly missed. You just had to love her!!!
Laverne always treated me like family. She also took my mom and my sister into the family, along with the rest of Shepherd family, when David married Rita. I am grateful for this, not only for Laverne but for the entire Shepherd family. Blending families is a hard job but David has been an excellent father to me and a great partner for my mom. Laverne I’m sure is proud of all her kids and I know she will be missed by her children, great grand children and great grand children.
My thoughts and prayers are with you Joyce and all the family she is now in the arms of the Lord
Aunt Laverne a lady with a heart of gold I will miss you very much we had some wonderful times together.Growing up our holidays were always spent together,we had great times at the track,we went to Florida together a few times which I enjoyed very much as an adult. I wish we could have seen more of you and Les in your later years, Shelle and I will always remember and love you. May God bless you!
We will miss her forever and always. We are thankful for our fond memories of time spent together on the holidays and vacationing. She was such a wonderful lady. We’re sad for the family but happy for her that she is in the loving arms of sweet Jesus and all her family. Sending lots of hugs and love to Theresa, David, Joyce, Nancy and their families. We hope our love and prayers bring you comfort.