Robert Franklin Shepherd, 87, of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died February 11, 2009, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born March 30, 1921, in Blackwell, Oklahoma, to Roy and Oppie (Frazier) Shepherd. He grew up on a farm west of Blackwell that his grandfather homesteaded in 1893. He attended Cooper School, Lovett Junior High School and graduated from Blackwell High School in 1939.

In 1942 he enlisted in the United States Army and served as a control tower operator during World War II. He served his country faithfully and was stationed at various bases in the United States and overseas in Okinawa. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

Upon returning to Blackwell, he went to work for the Rural Electric Association, now known as Kay Electric Cooperative, building electric lines for the rural community. In 1947, he married Doris E. Miller of Blackwell and purchased his father-in-law's local service station located on the corner of Main and Armory in Blackwell. In 1949 he founded Shepherd Oil Company. Bob took great delight in serving the local and surrounding communities with automotive services and petroleum products. He built several lifelong relationships with the people he served and loved working and serving the area farming community. He and Bob Conaway of Blackwell operated a partnership in several real estate holdings in Kansas and Oklahoma.

Bob was a member of the First Baptist Church of Blackwell. He has served on the Blackwell Chamber Board, Blackwell Public Schools Board for fifteen years, and was a founder and trustee for the Blackwell-Tonkawa Airport Trust. He served three terms on the Governing Board for the Integris Blackwell Regional Hospital, served on the First National Bank Board for several years and also the Board of Trustees of the Blackwell Industrial Authority. He was a founder of Kay Grant Savings and Loan in Blackwell and was a Shriner with the Masonic Lodge. He also held membership in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and was a longtime member of the Oklahoma Petroleum Marketers Association.

The couple made Blackwell their home at 1717 S. Third in Blackwell. Bob and Doris love spending their retirement summers in Gunnison, Colorado, and enjoyed many years with friends and family visiting them. He especially enjoyed taking all of the grandkids fishing in the Blue Mesa Lake. His hobbies included spending time with his family, farming, fishing, cooking and canning. Bob was well known for his famous turkey dressing and his dill pickle recipes. He loved people in general and it was not unusual to see him giving a child a ride home from school on a cold winter's day or changing a flat tire on the side of the road for a stranger.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Oppie Shepherd. His life is celebrated by his surviving family, his loving wife of sixty-one years, Doris; a daughter, Barbara Ihrig and husband Jon of Blackwell; and two sons, Mike Shepherd and wife Linda of Blackwell, and Scott Shepherd and wife June of Blackwell. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, Jared Ihrig, Jason Shepherd, Chad Ihrig, Brindan Shepherd, Drew Ihrig, Kristen Zimmerman, Juliann Ihrig, Justin Shepherd, Kortney Shepherd, Kandee Shepherd and Kelsey Shepherd; a brother, Wayne Shepherd and wife Patty of Blackwell; a sister-in-law, Sherry Rogers of Tulsa, Oklahoma; nine great grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.

Casketbearers are Jared Ihrig, Jason Shepherd, Chad Ihrig, Brindan Shepherd, Drew Ihrig, Justin Shepherd and Zack Zimmerman.

Honorary casketbearers will be R. C. Bechtel, Eugene Braly, Larry Cannon, Don Goff, LeRoy Hadley, Don Loftis, Dale Wooderson, Terry Davis, Dale Anderson and George Rowley.

Bob will be remembered for his love for his God, his family, and his fellowman. He never met a person that he wasn't willing to serve, help and encourage along life's journey. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 14th in the First Baptist Church in Blackwell with the Rev. Michael Moers of the First Baptist Church and the Rev. Robert Foos of the Nardin Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the Integris Blackwell Rural Health Foundation in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.