Myra "Del" Delores Shepard

M. Delores Shepard, 101, of Dayton, Iowa, and formerly of Boxholm, passed away on Friday, September 27, 2019, at Hearthstone Memory Care in Boone, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at the United Methodist Church in Dayton. Rev. Kay. Christie will officiate. Burial will be at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Boxholm. There will be no visitation.

Myra Delores Swigert was born on May 6, 1918, in Boxholm, Iowa, the daughter of Charles Justin and Hattie Lorena (Wilson) Swigert. She was baptized by Rev. Holmgren and later confirmed by Rev. Clair Kerns at the United Methodist Church in Boxholm. Del was raised on a farm south of Boxholm, and graduated with the Boxholm Consolidated High School class of 1935, and Iowa State University in 1939.

Del was united in marriage to John J. Shepard Jr. on September 23, 1939, at the Collegiate United Methodist Church in Ames by Rev. Nichols. This union was blessed with three sons, John J. III, Thomas Michael, and William Douglas. The couple lived on the family farm south of Boxholm. John Jr. passed away in 1988. Del moved to Dayton in 1993.

Del was a former member of the Boxholm United Methodist Church and currently belonged to the United Methodist Church in Dayton where she was active in choir and church circles. She enjoyed music all of her life and was a member of the girls Boxholm trio in high school, sang solo’s and did group singing in college, and was always active in choir. Del also belonged to the Boxholm Legion Auxiliary and Neighborhood Club, the Dayton Woman’s Club, Exerciser’s, Dayton Country Club where she golfed for 40 years and played bridge, and volunteered for many years at Grandview Health Care Center in Dayton. She enjoyed reading books, painting in acrylics, singing, and was active in county organizations.

Del was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John Shepard Jr.; two sons, John “J.J.” Shepard III, and Bill Shepard; two brothers, Theron and Verne; and three sisters, Leone, Catherine, and Erma.

Survivors include her daughter-in-law, Mrs. J.J. Shepard III of Boxholm, Iowa; son, Tom Shepard of Eugene, OR; six grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be given to either the Dayton or Boxholm United Methodist Church.