Obituary - Richard E. Shepherd

Tuesday, June 26, 2001
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Richard E. Shepherd, veteran political assistant and executive for the state of Alaska, died June 12, 2001, in California.

He was born April 22, 1937, to Clyda and Edward Shepherd in Vancouver, Wash. Shepherd worked for the state and federal government in the 1960s and '70s. He worked as special assistant to former Govs. Walter J. Hickel and Keith Miller before being named to a similar post within the Office of the Secretary of the Interior by Hickel and successor Rogers C.B. Morton. He later went on to become assistant to Congressman Don Young. In 1981 Shepherd became manager of the Alaska Marine Highway System's terminal in Seattle.

His family wrote that he was a born entertainer as demonstrated by his early performances in Arthur Miller's classic "An Enemy of the People" and his salesman role in the Juneau production of "Hootch-n-oo & Hotcakes."

Shepherd is survived by his wife of 43 years, Karla Jean Shepherd; daughters Kari McWhirter, Kimberlie Shepherd and Kameron Lyne; sons-in-law Anthony McWhirter and Michael Lyne; grandchildren Katie and Rachel McWhirter, Chanel and Cian Sobrepena, and Nolan Richard Lyne; sister Cherie Brownlee; nieces Lisa Santini and Dana Rush; and nephews Michael Shepherd and Robert Baugher.

---