Donald Ray Shepherd
Donald Ray Shepherd, 74, died May 16, 2010, at his home in Tow. He was born Sept. 7, 1935, in Pampa, the son of Ray and Lorene Shepherd.
He graduated from Denison High School in 1954 and cum laude from Austin College in Sherman in 1958.
He married Elizabeth Poole Shepherd in Bay City in 1958. He then continued his education at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and graduated in 1962. He was board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology. He was elected an Emeritus Fellow of the College of American Pathologists. He was an Army captain from 1963 to 1965 and received the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.
While living in Conroe for 28 years, the couple raised four children. He founded and served as the chief of staff of the pathology department at Montgomery County Medical Center in Conroe. He also served as chief of staff at Charter Regional Medical Center from 1989 to 1992 in Cleveland, Texas.
He provided 18 years of service to Liberty Dayton Hospital. He owned and operated a private pathology practice in Conroe, and founded and ran Professional Pathology Laboratories in Houston.
He also served as a medical examiner for multiple counties in Southeast Texas.
After retirement in 1999, the couple moved to Tow. They were active members at First Presbyterian Church of Llano where he also served as an elder.
In Tow, he continued to utilize his medical expertise in pathology to perform aquaculture research. He focused primarily on fresh-water mussels and enjoyed many years of working in conjunction with the Texas A&M University graduate program.
Survivors include his daughter Elizabeth Amelia Shepherd of Tow, daughter Stephanie Shepherd Pearce and husband Sam of Meadowlakes, daughter Leslie Shepherd Hoyer and husband Ted of Stone Mountain, Ga., and son Don Poole Shepherd and wife Kari of Franklin, Tenn.; grandchildren Sara (and husband Kenny), Bryan, Sammy, Stephen, Shelby, Elizabeth Day, Keller, McKenna, Sawyer and Elizabeth Poole; great-grandson Nicholas Ray Hickey; brother Gary Shepherd and wife Linda of Llano and their daughters Michelle and Laura Ann; sister-in-law Amelia Poole Sudderth and husband Joe of Waco; niece and nephews Sara and Bryan Shippey and their children Faith and Ellen, David Sudderth and his daughter Darla, and Mark and Margaret Sudderth and their children Anna and Martha.
He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; and grandson Olav Tag Hoyer.
A visitation is 6-8 p.m. May 18 at Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Home, 307 E. Sandstone in Llano, (325) 247-4300.
A funeral service is 11 a.m. May 19 at First Presbyterian Church in Llano with the Rev. Richard Lounsbery officiating.
A burial with a graveside service follows at 10 a.m. May 20 at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City with the Rev. Mark Stoub officiating.
Memorial gifts can be made to First Presbyterian Church of Llano, 1306 Ford St., P. O. Box 385, Llano, TX 78643.
E-mail condolences may be sent to whhfuneral1@verizon.net or visit www.whhfuneralhome.com for online condolences.