James “Shep” Shepherd passed away early July 4, 2006, at Sutter Lakeside Hospital, surrounded by his immediate family and close friend Paul Willis.
Shep was one of the lucky few who was able to make a living doing what he loved and he loved what he was doing, being a mechanic and auto enthusiast almost all of his life. Shep partially retired 17 years ago so he could continue being involved in his passion with cars. About five years ago Shep fully and formally retired from work so he could race his go-kart in earnest … again.
He was born Feb. 16, 1935, in Mariposa County were he spent most of his youth. As a young adult his family moved to San Francisco where Shep went to Lowell High School. After high school he lived in South San Francisco and then moved to Lake County.
He spent many a summer”s evening and later vacationed on the shores of Clear Lake. In 1977 he turned his summer home into a full-time residence.
As a young adult he, like many young men, had a passion for hot rods. He joined the San Francisco Pacers and continued to value those bonds of friendship established early in his life. Being a true auto enthusiast he held a passion for racing in all forms, and he was an accomplished racer on two or four wheels. He had a passion for racing go-karts, a sport he enjoyed in his 20s, then in his 60s he reestablished his friendships at Northern California Karting and continued to finish in the top three places in his 70s at Thunder Hill Raceway in Willows and numerous other road course tracks. He won first place for the 2003 IKF (International Karting Federation) Road Race Grand Nationals in his karting class and the Troy Rupman Award. He enjoyed all aspects of racing from being in the driver”s seat, to wrenching on motors, fine tuning chassis and lastly being in the grandstands.
In 1979 he purchased the Shell Station at 11th and Main and became a fixture of Lakeport in no time. In the late 80s he brought his passion for hot rods to Lakeport with the Clear Lake Revival, a three-day event featuring a car show, dance, poker run and a cruises through the streets of Lake County.
Many will miss this extraordinary man, his sense of humor, insurmountable spirit and enthusiasm for life.
He is preceded in death by parents, Irene and James Shepherd; niece, Irene Villeggiante; brother, Roy Johnson of Bakersfield; sister, Alice Leon of San Francisco; sister, Betty Quinn-Heidenreich of Opa Locka, Fla.; daughter, Kim Navarro of Santa Rosa; and grandson, Joshua Jansen of Kelseyville.
He is survived by his wife and soul mate, Sue Jansen; mother-in-law, Jennie Hutchison of Paramount; sisters, Virginia (Sam) Villeggiante of Sonoma and Wylema Bedient of Petaluma; and sister-in-law, Sandi (Pete) Petkus of Bellflower. He was a father to extended family Jay (Lori) Jansen of Lakeport and Clinton Jansen (Debbie) of Kelseyville; gramps to Cole Jansen and Steven White of Lakeport and Danielle Jansen of Kelseyville; Uncle Sheppie to Brad, Jeanette, Sydney and baby Newman of Long Beach, Jeffery, Shivaughn, Nehemiah and Micah Petkus of Reseda; Uncle Bubba to Debbie, Mike, John, Andy, Sammy, Vince, Sally, Steven and Anthony.
Family in spirit includes Dottie and Jim McLennen of San Francisco, Lois and Don Cordo of South San Fransisco, Jan and Jim Summers and Karen and Paul Willis of Lakeport, Andrea and Tony Trean of Nice, Sandy McCormick of Lakeport (and beyond), Rick Villalobos of Castro Valley and fellow Northern California Kart members, and many, many more loving family members and friends survive him.
Shep, may your race track in the sky have great banks, tight turns and may the victory lap always be yours. You will be sorely missed. We love you. Your family.
No flowers please. A contribution to the American Cancer Society, the J. “Shep” Shepherd Memorial College Fund or J. “Shep” Shepherd Memorial Race Fund in his honor would be appreciated in care of UMPQUA BANK, 805 11th St., Lakeport, CA 95453.
Viewing will be on Friday, July 14, at Abby Chapel of the Redwoods Mortuary Viewing Chapel, 190 Arlen Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 94928; at the Faith Presbyterian Church from 2-9 p.m. Saturday, July 15; and at the Hartley Cemetery Chapel, 2552 Hill Road, East Lakeport CA 95453, (From Highway 29 take the Parkway Exit, turn east than turn right onto Hill Road East, then turn left onto Shady Lane to the cemetery).
A brief viewing from 10 to 10:30 a.m. will proceed the funeral service starting at 11 a.m., followed by a private family graveside interment. Guests are asked to join the family at the home of Jay Jansen for a potluck “side dish” (salad or dessert type) barbecue lunch, as the main meal dish will be provided by the family. Maps will be provided at the service.
Assisting the family with their wishes is Abby Chapel of the Redwoods Mortuary, Rohnert Park CA, 707-584-7100. To send the family a condolence go to the mortuary”s Web site, www.abbymortuary.com/obits.
(Published in the Lake County Record-Bee on Wednesday, July 12, 2006.)
FOR MORE OBITUARIES, SEE PAGE A12.
