James (Jim) David Shepherd

During his youth, he had a profound passion for both sports and art. He actively participated in basketball, baseball, and track events throughout his high school years. Notably, he achieved first place in a national Cotton Week Contest for his poster artwork dedicated to the event. In addition, he served on the student council at Tulare High School and cultivated meaningful friendships. These experiences significantly boosted his self-confidence and paved the way for a promising future.

After graduating from Tulare High School in 1955, he briefly attended College of Sequoias in Visalia, CA. After his freshman year of college, he joined the United States Air Force following the example of his cousin, Jack. He did his basic training with the Air Force in Denver, Co in Strategic Air Command. He was sent on assignment to Guam, and then surprisingly was assigned to his third-choice base assignment, the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho (close to Boise). During a visit to Boise, he crossed paths with some young individuals who were impressed by his abstinence from drinking, smoking, and swearing as a member of the Air Force. This admiration eventually led to his introduction to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints, aligning with their shared high moral standards. Months later, he fulfilled his lifelong spiritual quest for truth and met with senior missionaries from the Boise First Ward, received a testimony, and was baptized as a member of the Church in October 1958. This was such a turning point in his life. As a result of his military service, Jim and Carol Ann remained great patriots who love their country.

Two months after his baptism he met his future wife, Carol Ann Millar, during her Christmas break from Brigham Young University. They had a two-year-long distance courtship as Carol Ann continued her education in Provo, Utah, and Jim finished his commitment to the Air Force. They were married in the Idaho Falls, ID LDS Temple on September 7, 1960 for time and all eternity. Their life journey then took them to BYU where Carol Ann eventually graduated, and Jim continued his education. The next school year, they moved to San Jose California where Carol Ann started her first job as an elementary school teacher and supported Jim until he graduated with honors with an Interior Design BA degree from San Jose State University in 1963. During this time, they often joked that they continued their courtship after they were married since it had been such a long distance before. They had many adventures going all over the bay area on the weekends.

Continuing their journey, they first moved to Boise, ID and then Salt Lake City, UT where Jim worked for Dohrmann Company designing restaurants. Their lives were blessed with their two beautiful daughters, Susan and Jill during this time.

Job changes took them back to San Jose, CA where he worked for a company designing office spaces and hospitals. They bought their first home there and their third daughter, darling Lisa, was born. In 1970, they felt an impression to move their family back to Boise, ID, where they opened a fabric business. Eventually, he secured his dream job working as an interior space planner for Boise Cascade. They added three more wonderful children to complete their family, David, Brian, and Natalie. In 1982, Boise Cascade downsized, and Jim secured employment with the Church as an employee at the Boise Idaho Temple.

After spending 32 years in Boise, raising their family, Jim retired and moved with Carol Ann to Utah in 2002. This enabled them more time to travel, watch their posterity grow, and attend various BYU events from football to ballroom dancing. They enjoyed their season tickets to the Hale Center for performing arts amongst other things. Jim and Carol Ann’s children have always been the greatest joy of their lives. They have been blessed with strong spirits who have married great people and grown their legacy to include seventeen incredible grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren. In 2020, Jim and Carol Ann wrote and produced their own complete personal life histories as a gift for their family and future posterity.

Jim LOVED sports! Any kind of sport. While living and attending school in Provo, Jim once went to a football game where it snowed six inches that day and he stayed until the very last play. He loved every minute and there began his love for BYU sports which he shared with Carol Ann. He played on many ward softball and basketball teams over the years. Stories of his team’s triumphant comeback wins, and undermanned victories still live on to this day-remembered and enjoyed. He encouraged his children to learn and participate in all different kinds of sports and activities during their childhood. Going to the football and basketball games at Boise State University was a regular family activity.

Church service included: callings as Elder’s Quorum President, Scout Master (over his own boys), serving as a counselor in two bishoprics, a five-year mission with Carol Ann at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City, Gospel Doctrine and Sunday school teacher, and Emergency Preparedness Specialists. Jim has been a survivor his entire life including several years with numerous health challenges from adult-onset diabetes, prostate cancer, heart valve issues and most recently, respiratory disease. His body was tired, and he peacefully fulfilled his earthly mission on Saturday, October 28, 2023.

He is survived in death by, his wife of 63 years Carol Ann Shepherd, daughter Susan Krueger (Geoff), daughter Jill Greenlaw (Kellert), daughter Lisa Farnworth (David), son David Shepherd (Jen), son Brian Shepherd (Tiana), and daughter Natalie Shepherd, seventeen grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren and his sister Gerrell Knudsen, all who are grateful that families are forever.

Funeral services will be held from 10-11am on Saturday, November 4th, 2023, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Chapel at 11677 Grandville Ave South Jordan, UT 84009.

Interment will be held at Utah Veterans Memorial with full military honors at 11:30am on Monday, November 6th. Location is Camp Williams 17111 S 1700 W Bluffdale, UT 84065

For those unable to attend in person, the family invites you to join the services online by using the link below:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/2067906353?pwd=5qyeaeHKvobVXdzDqJ4XjWBx7542dy.1