Mary Lilian Shepherd

Mary Lilian Shepherd, 79, of Mineral City and formerly of New Philadelphia, died Wednesday, August 1, 2007, at her home where she resided with her daughter for the past five years.A daughter of the late Joseph and Susan (Rivers) Mennom, Lilian was born March 23, 1928 at New Philadelphia, Ohio.She was a 1946 graduate of New Philadelphia High School and on May 30, 1947, Lilian married the love of her life, William Frank Shepherd. Together, they raised two children, William and Jolien. Over the years, Lilian worked at J.J. Newberry’s, Dover Machine, Gundy Construction and Shepherd Welding.Lilian was a member of Otterbein United Methodist Church at New Philadelphia for over 50 years. During those years, she served the church in various capacities. Lilian was one of the original Jr. Church teachers, a member of the United Methodist Women, she provided altar decorations for over 20 years and along with her husband, Frank, she would deliver the altar flowers every week to shut-ins and nursing homes throughout the area. She once served as a trustee and held many office positions in the church. She helped make hard tack candy and with the help of Frank, she built a BBQ grill for the church and assisted with the Chicken BBQ dinners, the Bazaars and Soup and Sandwich social events. It was evident that Lilian loved her church and her church family dearly.When Lilian wasn’t serving her church, she kept busy with other activities. She was a Tusky Valley Band Booster, she enjoyed gardening and arranging the flowers she collected from her gardens and canning vegetables, camping and fishing. Lilian and Frank were charter members of Tusco Traveliers. She loved playing the organ while her son, Bill, was at her side playing the accordion. But most of all, she dearly loved her family and she cherished the times they would all come together under one roof to share a meal that Lilian lovingly prepared.She is survived by her daughter, Jolien “Jody” (James) Wrana, four grandchildren, Ron (Becky) Shepherd and Joseph (Michelle) Shepherd both of New Philadelphia, James Wrana of Bowerston and Rachel Wrana of Mineral City; great grandchildren, April Sue Shepherd, Alex Shepherd, Andrew Shepherd, Lauren Davia, Montana Anderson and Austin Cole Wrana; a daughter-in-law, Diana Shepherd of New Philadelphia, an aunt, Ruth (Harold) Mennom and dear friends, George and Iris Walker.Lilian was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband, William Frank Shepherd, who passed away on November 26, 2001; her son, William Paul Shepherd who passed away on February 17, 2005, a sister and brother-in-law, Doreen and Leo Gundy and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Beverly and Paul Shepherd.Family and friends may call on Friday, August 3, 2007 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral service celebrating Lilian’s life will be held on Saturday, August 4, 2007 at 11:00AM at Otterbein United Methodist Church at New Philadelphia with Rev. Kelly Brown officiating. Burial will follow in East Avenue Cemetery at New Philadelphia. Following the committal service, a memorial reception will be held in the Geib Family Center at New Philadelphia.Those wishing to do so may send the family a personal condolence and view and online memorial by visiting the funeral home website.Contributions may be made in Lilian’s memory to Otterbein United Methodist Church, 156 Beaver Avenue NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663 or Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 West Third Street, Dover, OH 44622.