Richard W. Shepard, Sr.

Gilford-----Richard W. Shepard, Sr., 78, of 308 Gilford Avenue, died at Golden View Health Care Center, Meredith on Wednesday, September 30, 2009.

Mr. Shepard was born May 17, 1931 in Laconia, the son of Tracy T. and Colista E. (Hackett) Shepard. He was a lifelong resident of Belmont and was an insurance agent with John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance for thirty years before retiring in 1986. He owned and operated Shepard’s Rainbow Ridge Housekeeping Cottages on Dockham Shore in Gilford on Lake Winnipesaukee for fourteen years.

Mr. Shepard was known locally as the Chairman for his woven macramé chairs proudly displayed on the front lawn of his Gilford Avenue home. He and his wife travelled extensively through forty-nine states with their motor home.

Mr. Shepard was a member of the N. H. National Guard, Battery C. He was a lifelong member of the Laconia Lodge of Elks #876 and was the youngest Exalted Ruler at the time.

Mr. Shepard is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Janette C. (Laramie) Shepard, of Gilford; two daughters, Linda L. Fleury and her husband, Barry J. Fleury, of Belmont and Susan M. Shepard and her partner, Michael R. Marcotte, of Meredith and a son, Richard W. Shepard, Jr., and his wife, Joelle, of Tinton Falls, N. J.; seven grandchildren, Jeremy Poire, Heather Poire, Christopher Bartlett, Jessica Stinson, Ian Shepard, Emma Shepard and Tory Shepard; nine great grandchildren; a brother, Phillip R. Shepard, of Litchfield, N.H. and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Shepard was predeceased by his mother, Colista E. (Hackett) McKenney, by his father, Tracy T. Shepard, and by a brother, Robert E. Shepard.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 10:00AM to Noon in the Carriage House of the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N. H. A Session of Sorrow will be conducted by the Laconia Lodge of Elks at 11:00AM.

There will be no funeral service.

Private burial will be in the family lot at Bayside Cemetery, Laconia.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, N.H. Office, One Bedford Farms Drive, Suite 105, Bedford, N.H. 03110 or to Community Health & Hospice, Inc., 780 North Main Street, Laconia, N. H. 03246.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N. H. is in charge of the arrangements.