Fernita Jessie Shepherd

Funeral Services for Fernita Shepherd, 93, Custer County resident, will be held 10:00 A.M., Saturday, January 14, 2023, in the Clinton Freewill Baptist Church, officiated by Pastor Daniel Mosburg, Pastor Charles Murphy and Pastor Odie Nunley. Burial will follow in the Butler Cemetery under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.

Fernita “Fern” Jessie (Wright) Shepherd was born September 28, 1929, in Butler, OK to Jessie Oklahoma “Jack” Wright and Byna Evelyn (McCain) Wright and passed away Sunday, January 08, 2023, in the Corn Heritage Village in Corn, OK.

Fern was raised in Butler, OK where she attended school. She married Carl E. Shepherd on January 6, 1946, in Butler, OK. They soon purchased the Jay Maker farm where they lived and farmed for many years.

She instilled a Godly influence in each of her children and in all their families and taught them valuable life skills; they learned to work hard and knew the importance of taking care of their families and how to be a good neighbor. She welcomed unexpected visitors, to share a meal with and always had plenty to eat.

She along with husband, Carl, liked singing and in the 1960’s they recorded an album as a quartet with Dick and Pauline Baker, their neighbors. She also played the piano and led singing for church services for over 65 years.

She was a faithful member of the Freewill Baptist Church, where served as Sunday school teacher and was the song director. She loved to garden, canning, cooking, sewing, quilting and was an active participant in the community’s Home Economics Club. She was known for making the best coconut cream pies, homemade bread and rolls for family, friends, and church. She loved going to High school basketball games and supporting the school, she enjoyed fishing with Carl and family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Carl, who passed away in October 2022, two brothers, G.W. Wright and Leroy L. Wright and sister Bonnie Lou Wright.

She is survived by son Carl Lyn Shepherd and wife Mary Jo, Edmond, OK; two daughters, Susan Diel and husband, Tom, Morrison, OK and DeAnn Staggs and husband, Ron, Owasso, OK.

She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Kerry Knisley and husband, Jason, Casey Shepherd and wife Jayna, Shawn Diel and wife, Shawna, Amber Johnston and husband, Patrick, Cash Diel and wife, Andrea, Monte Kelley and wife, Heather, Sean Staggs and wife, Keri, Paul Staggs and wife Jennifer and Zac Lindley and wife, Adria; 25 great-grandchildren, Grayson, Addison, Naia, Caedmon, Rylan, Liam, Peter, Karsan, Josh, Gunnar, Aaron, Aiden, Wyatt, Ethan, Maddox, Jamal, Corbin, Taryn, Sage, Jacob, Hunter, Kalyssa, Avonlea, Piper, Tucker and Ellie.