Joyce Irene Shepherd, age 83, of Houston, Texas died peacefully at 12:00PM at her home on Thursday, February 23, 2012.

Joyce was born July 22, 1928 to Elmer and Anna Hallum of Austin, Minnesota. Shortly after graduating from Austin High School in 1946, she traveled to various US cities as one of the well-known “Hormel” girls selling Hormel products after World War II. She finally settled in Houston where she met and married Andrew “Jack” Shepherd. They wed April 3, 1952 at Trinity Lutheran Church. They first resided in Oak Forest and later moved to the Spring Branch area in 1964.

A child during the Depression, Joyce picked beets and onions in the fields and worked in a sweet shop to help support her family.

She was a life-long Lutheran. She attended St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, Minnesota growing up. She was baptized there August 24, 1928 and confirmed there May 3, 1942. She transferred to Trinity Lutheran Church upon settling in Houston. When she and Jack moved to Oak Forest in the mid-1950’s, she began attending Gethsemane Lutheran on Watonga. She later moved to Spring Branch and began attending St. Andrew’s Lutheran on Witte Road. She returned to Trinity in the late-1980’s and remained there until transferring to Christ Memorial Lutheran in 2006.

Joyce devoted her life to her husband, children, friends, and church. She was particularly well-known for her cooking, sewing, and friendship. Her kitchen table was a place to find a listening ear, a warm heart and a hot cup of coffee. Her hands were always busy serving others at her church and home, and she served for many years at the local food pantry. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

She is preceded in death by her sister Grace Ferguson, brothers Earl and Roger Hallum, and grandson Jonathan Abuhamad.

She is survived by her sister, Donna Blaser, her husband, and five children: JoAnn Shepherd, Jackson Shepherd, Julie Cook, Jenny Abuhamad, and Jason Shepherd. She had 19 grandchildren: Danny Perette, Christopher Perette, Scott Shepherd, Joe Shepherd, Nick Shepherd, Lee Shepherd, Jacob Shepherd, Matthew Cook, Sophie Cook, Joshua Cook, Caleb Cook, Jonathan Abuhamad, Thani Abuhamad, Anna Lee Abuhamad, Isabella Abuhamad, Theo Abuhamad, Jaycee Shepherd, Jack Shepherd, and Douglas Shepherd. She also had five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two daughters-in-law Michelle Shepherd and Kristi Shepherd and two sons-in-law Damian Cook and Ramiz Abuhamad.

Services will be held Monday, February 27 at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church on Memorial Drive. A viewing will take place at 1:00PM and the funeral at 1:30PM. A reception at the church will follow the funeral. Internment will be at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery. The graveside service is scheduled for 4:00PM.

Condolences can be sent to 1611 Scenic Ridge, Houston, Texas 77043. Arrangements by Beresford Funeral Home.

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