Rosalee E. Shepherd, 87, rural South Whitley, passed away at 4:15 a.m. on Monday, August 20, 2018 at Peabody Healthcare Center, North Manchester, Indiana. One of four children, Rosalee was born on August 15, 1931 to Olin and Mabel (Biehl) Lofland in Wabash County, Indiana.
After graduating high school, Rosalee married her best friend Richard W. “Dick” Shepherd on December 16, 1951 at Bippus Calvary United Methodist Church, Bippus, Indiana where Rosalee was a member for 75 years. For 66 years Dick and Rosalee enjoyed a life together, raising four children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. As Dick worked in the Manchester Community Schools as a vice principal, principal, and teacher, Rosalee was a homemaker. Taking care of her children was always a top priority to Rosalee. When she had free time Rosalee enjoyed painting, sewing, crocheting, canning what she grew in her garden and playing piano. As years went on, Rosalee always looked forward to the holidays where the entire family would gather at the Shepherd household for a meal and laughs together. After Dick retired from the Manchester Community Schools, Rosalee started working for Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, Indiana for 10 years before retiring.
The loving memory of Rosalee E. Shepherd will be carried on by her husband, Richard W. “Dick” Shepherd, rural South Whitley; two sons, Gene (Martha) Shepherd, Warsaw, Indiana and Chris (Kelly) Shepherd, South Whitley, Indiana; one daughter, Lorene Dotson, Silver Lake, Indiana; one sister, Darlene Welty, Carmel, Indiana; seven grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Rosalee was preceded in death by her parents, Olin and Mabel Lofland; one daughter, Ena Elizabeth “Beth” Shoemaker who passed away on September 27, 2009; two sisters, Ledona Dennison and Norma Jean Sleighter; two grandchildren, Steven Michael Wolfe who passed away on December 30, 2000 and Kristopher Corridan Shepherd who passed away on August 14, 2013.
Family and friends may call Thursday, August 23, 2018 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at McKee Mortuary, 1401 State Road 114 West, North Manchester, Indiana. Funeral services will begin on Friday, August 24, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Bippus Calvary United Methodist Church, 7955 North 900 West, Huntington, Indiana 46750, with calling one hour prior to the start of the service. Pastor Barry Faucett will officiate. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery, County Road 300 East and County Road 1000 North, Servia, Indiana.
For those who wish to honor the memory of Rosalee E. Shepherd, memorial contributions may be made to Bippus Calvary United Methodist Church, 7955 North 900 West, Huntington, Indiana 46750.