Gaylord Oscar Shepherd, Jr., 89, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, Sunday, March 18, 2018. “Shep” was born in Asheville, NC and longtime resident of Lake Toxaway, NC.
He is survived by his son Scott and his wife Betsy, of Lawrenceville, GA; daughter Beth and her husband John Hines, of Beaufort, SC; son Don, of Lake Toxaway; daughter Ann and her husband Dennis Hertzberg, of Lake Toxaway; son Matthew and his wife Carolyn, of Decatur, GA; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Marjorie Duquette Shepherd and eldest son Gaylord Oscar Shepherd III.
After serving in the U.S. Navy, Shep graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in chemical engineering. He began his career as a safety supervisor with DuPont in Parlin, NJ. The family moved to Brevard in 1969 where Shep transferred to the Brevard DuPont plant. He later developed DuPont’s DuCare environmental program, which supported both the medical and commercial imaging divisions. He won DuPont’s highest environmental award for implementing the Alternative Fuels Boiler at the Brevard plant, off-setting the use of fossil fuels to provide power.
Shep’s many interests included reading, traveling, fishing, boating, and politics. He was a 32nd degree Mason. Along with his wife Marge, Shep co-founded Camp Winding Gap, a children’s summer camp in Lake Toxaway.
A private family memorial service will be held in April.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or The Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Moody-Connolly Life Celebrations is caring for the family.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com.