Family and friends are bringing Sidney Lee Shepherd home to rest and celebrating his life on May 5, 2018. Graveside Services will be held at 1:30 pm at the Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements by Fairview Funeral Home Inc.

Sid passed away December 3, 2017 from natural causes at his home in Columbus, Ohio. He leaves behind wife, Natalie Shepherd, daughter, Denise Shepherd Baldwin, son, Douglas Shepherd, grandchildren, Blake Baldwin, Jessica Shepherd, Tyler Baldwin, Cameron Baldwin, six great-grand-children and multiple nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Shepherd and Lee (Lena Martindale) Shepherd Roser, his wife, Beverly Jan Burns Shepherd, his beloved brother, Phillip Shepherd and his dear step-father, George Roser.

Sid was born October 12, 1931 in Dodge City, KS. Clarence and Lena moved to Fairview, OK when he was 2 or 3 years old. During his time in Fairview, he played football, participated in the band, and ran track. He was a member of the 1946 State Champion football team. He was fond of his time in Fairview and recalled delivering newspapers, shining shoes at the barber shop, delivering ice, working at Louder's Grocery Store, Smith's Drug Store, Marshall's Pool Hall and Pearl's Café. He lived briefly in Wichita with his brother, Phil, before moving to Topeka in 1948 to live with his mother. He graduated Topeka High School in 1949. Natalie was his schoolmate along with Bob Francis (Natalie's deceased first husband). Briefly in 1949, he worked as a lineman for Santa Fe Railroad Telegraph. He and Bob Frances joined the United States Marine Corp in September 1949 and served in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. He attained the rank of Staff Sargent in the 1st Marine Air Wing Division. Sid was proud of his Marine Corps service. "Once a Marine, Always a Marine," he would say. He participated in the Battle for Chosin Reservoir and attended the "Frozen Chosen" reunions with his band of brothers who survived this brutal campaign. He sustained hearing loss and frostbite as a result of this campaign.

During the remaining years of his professional life he created a distinguished career in the casket/funeral home business. He and Beverly formed Universal Sales Agency and Bev's Threads which became successful businesses in Richmond, Indiana. They were known for their philanthropic deeds in the community.

After retirement, he enjoyed his second home in Fort Myers, Florida where he leaves behind many friends and good memories of him. Folks in Florida remember a "kind man" and one who woke them each morning with the playing of "Reveille" on his trumpet. He never failed to fly the United States Flag and the Marine Corps Flag when he was there.

He loved to fish and took regular trips to Hatchett Lake in Canada. He owned several boats over his lifetime and always said, "A man has two great days in his life, the first day is when you buy a boat and the second day is when you sell it." He loved having birdhouses and watching the birds in his easy chair with binoculars in hand. Having him for a friend meant having a friend for life. Men like Sid don't lose friends, they just add to them. If riches were counted by the number of friends, he died a very rich man.

In losing Sid, we have lost a father, husband, grandfather, uncle, and friend. No amount of time will ease our loss. The passing of time will allow us to remember the man as he was in life. When we think of him, we tend to remember the organized, always on time, well-groomed man but his sense of humor and story-telling abilities are matched by none. He was generous to a fault and he was modest. He never quite knew of the impression he left on people who were lucky enough to spend time with him. He thought of himself as a "common man." He was actually the most extraordinary "common man." He will be missed.