Master Chief John William Sheppard BMCM USN, 86, November 28,1928 to May 19, 2015, preceded in death by his parents William Franklin Sheppard and Mary Ethel Sheffield Sheppard, his sister Lera Sheppard Mullis, his brother Willie Carroll Sheppard and his son William Craig Sheppard. Survived by his wife Doris Leslie Kepler Sheppard, his daughter Mary Catherine Sheppard, his son Leslie Carroll Sheppard, his grandson Kyle Craig Sheppard Stegman and his granddaughter Kiera Leslie Sheppard, and his brother Norris Tony Sheppard.
John was born and raised in Abbeville, Georgia. John was named after his mother's favorite sister, his Aunt Johnnie of Milledgeville. He joined the Navy in 1947 and served during the Korean War and the Vietnam war, he achieved the rank of Boatswains Mate Master Chief Petty Officer during a 30 year career. He was stationed at Sangley Point in the Philippines, where he met his wife Doris. They were married September 21, 1951 at Glendale Presbyterian Church. He served aboard the U.S. Navy ships Boxer, Coucal, Mt. McKinley, Nereus, and Bradford. He also served as Chief Master-at-Arms aboard the USS Long Beach and at NAS Penascola. His final duty station was NRTC San Diego, where he was Lead Company Commander for 5 years.
He lived in both San Diego, California, and in Fitzgerald, Georgia on the family farm, across the road from his brother Tony and surrounded by the homes of his niece Susan Sheppard Brown and nephews Kenneth Sheppard, Steven Sheppard, and Scott Sheppard. John is also survived by nieces Joy Sheppard, Tonette Sheppard and Cathy Mullis, and nephews Randall Sheppard and David Mullis in Georgia. John is also survived by his nieces Lori Kepler Cofano and Julie Kepler Kocina, and nephew Russell Craig Kepler.
While on the farm John enjoyed hunting, fishing, and restoring his 1956 Ford F-100 pick up. He and his wife Doris lived in their motorhomes for 20 years traveling across the country between San Diego and Fitzgerald playing golf. After retirement, they were the Resident Managers of the NAS Miramar Stables, and the Resident Park Rangers at Los Penasquitos County Preserve. Following a difficult heart surgery John passed silently into the night like a Cruiser beginning it's final Westpac deployment, and will be interred at the National Cemetery in San Diego with Graveside Services and Military Honors.