Lura Dean Shepherd

Lura Dean Shepherd, 85, passed away on August 30, 2026, at her home in Silver Lake, Indiana. Born on July 5, 1941, in Garrett, Kentucky, to Bert and Mable (Moore) Hicks, Lura Dean Hicks Shepherd lived a life centered on faith, family, and hard work. She was a strong Christian woman and a member of the First Free Will Baptist Church of Kosciusko County. Those who knew her will remember her as honest, sweet, and genuine, with a warm spirit that made others feel welcome from the moment they arrived.

Lura built her working life through dedication and perseverance. She began her career at Mason Health and Rehabilitation, where she worked her way up to become Head of Housekeeping. She later worked as a supervisor at the Ramada Inn, and then in the kitchen at Biomet, where she eventually retired. In every role, she was known for her steady work ethic and commitment.

Her greatest joy was her family. Lura loved having family come by in the mornings for her biscuits and gravy, and having her loved ones gathered around her meant the world to her. She was a great cook, and her home was a place of comfort, welcome, and care. To so many, she was simply “Momo,” a name that reflected the love and affection she inspired in everyone who came around.

On December 30, 1958, Lura first married Sam Henry Bradley, and together they had four children. She later married Abraham “Abe” Shepherd on August 28, 1993. Their marriage was a meaningful chapter in her life, and she carried his memory with her after his death on March 3, 2022.

The loving memory of Lura Dean Shepherd will be forever cherished by her children, Cheryl (Louis) Reimer, Pierceton, David (Amanda J.) Bradley, Roann, Sheila Bradley, Wakarusa, and Samantha Bradley, Silver Lake; brother, David D. Hicks, North Manchester; sister, Dodie (Tom) Clifton, Winter Garden, Florida; ten grandchildren; forty-four great-grandchildren; fifteen great-great-grandchildren, with three on the way. Lura Dean was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Abraham “Abe” Shepherd.

Family and friends may call Friday, September 4, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the First Free Will Baptist Church of Kosciusko County, 58 West 700 South, Claypool, Indiana. Funeral services will begin at the conclusion of calling with Pastor Terry Bradford and Pastor Wetzel Shepherd officiating. Burial will be held at Lakeview Cemetery in Silver Lake, Indiana.

For those who wish to honor the memory of Lura Dean Shepherd, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

The family of Lura Dean Shepherd has entrusted McKee Mortuary with care and final arrangements.