Mildred E Shepherd's Obituary
Mildred Ethel (Gragg) Shepherd was born on December 20, 1915 Southeast of Clio, Iowa to Myron and Iva (Hughes) Gragg and went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at Corydon Nursing and Rehab in Corydon, Iowa at the age of 99 years.
Mildred lived her entire life in Wayne County. She attended country school and graduated from Clio High School in 1932 at the age of 16. After graduation she stayed home with her parents and helped them on the farm. She also became a 4-H leader.
She married Homer Shepherd on February 15, 1940. They moved to a farm belonging to Homer’s brother near Clio when they first married and in 1947 purchased a farm Northwest of Clio where they lived until they moved to Corydon.
She helped Homer on the farm with the chores, raised a big garden and took care of the home. In her spare time she enjoyed sewing. She continued with 4-H as a leader for ten years and truly enjoyed working with the kids.
She and Homer had accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and were very strong in their faith. They were very active in the Clio Baptist Church. She enjoyed having ladies’ groups from church in her home as well as evangelists and visiting music groups. She was known for her hospitality and her cooking, especially her apple pie.
As Mildred got older she developed chronic hepatitis and her doctor told her she needed to slow down. She really liked photography and began taking pictures of everything. A neighbor girl asked her if she would take her wedding pictures. She was nervous about it, but did it for the neighbor. Apparently she did a good job because her photography became a business for her for eighteen years. One year in particular when she was in her 70’s she took 35 wedding pictures traveling all over Southern Iowa.
In 1992 Homer and Mildred sold the farm to their niece and her husband and moved to a house in Corydon. They enjoyed the town life and started attending Corydon Bible Church.
In 1996 Homer passed away. Mildred continued to live at home. With time on her hands, she decided to start a new hobby and that was quilting. She truly enjoyed it and over about fifteen years she made more than 100 quilts, giving them to her family members and friends as gifts.
Homer and Mildred had no children. However, they were close to their nieces and nephews; and the children at the churches they attended called her “Grandma Shepherd”.
In April 2011 she moved to Murphy Place Assisted Living in Corydon. In March 2014 she went to live at the Corydon Nursing and Rehab Center.
Preceding her in death were her husband, her parents, two brothers, Richard and Russell Gragg, and two nephews, Terry Warrick and Rick Gragg.
Those left to mourn her passing are her nephews and their families; Eugene (Mary Louise) Gragg, Ontario, CA, Larry (Kay) Vandel, Woodinville, WA, Dennis (Gayle) Warrick of Keosauqua, IA: her nieces and their families: Linda Gragg and Pamela Warrick of Corydon, IA, Roberta Porter, Grand Prairie, TX, Arlene Coen, Gastonia, NC, and Patricia (Terry) Ewing, Allerton, IA; two sisters-in-law Pauline (Carl) Nicholson and Helen Warrick both of Corydon, IA; several cousins and also her extended church families.
She was a wonderful Christian woman and a great example to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.
Funeral service will be Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 1:30 pm at the Corydon Bible Church with Reverend Jeff Hontz officiating. Visitation will be Friday, May 29, 2015 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the Thomas-Randolph Funeral Home in Corydon. Interment will be in Clio Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Clio Cemetery or the Youth Fund at Corydon Bible Church and condolences may be shared at www.thomasrandolpfh.com .
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