Sandra Suzanne Wilson Shepherd, age 77, passed away peacefully and into the arms of the Lord Monday, April 3, 2017. Sandra was born on January 18, 1940, in Greeley, Colorado, to William Rufus Wilson and Bernice Viola Boyd Wilson. She is preceded in death by her parents, and by her sisters and brothers - Eunice W. Scott, Mary Katherine W. Munroe, Joseph Wilson, and Stephen Wilson.

Sandra grew up on her family's farm in Nunn, Colorado, 70 miles north of Denver. There, she was raised working in wheat fields and tending to milk cows from the age of 4. Her life on the family farm allowed her to be surrounded by many animals that she learned and worked hard to care for. Sandra's immense love and amazing talent in being around and working with animals were always evident throughout her life, and an inspiration to all who knew her.

In her lifetime, Sandra's countless accomplishments distinguished her as a remarkably gifted and wonderful person. At the 1955 Colorado State Fair held in Pueblo, Colorado, Sandra was recognized as the Champion 4-H Milk Maid after milking 10.3 pounds of milk from a champion Brown Swiss dairy cow in only 3 seconds while the cow's owner and the governor of Colorado looked on, an event captured and printed on the front page of the Pueblo newspaper the next morning.  Also exceptional as a student, Sandra played sports throughout her school years and was a cheerleader in high school.  She graduated in 1958 from a small two-story brick school building in Nunn as the valedictorian of her senior class of 5 students. Thereafter, she successfully completed 2 years of college at Colorado State University in Fort Collins before going to work as an airline hostess for Continental Airlines. During this time with Continental, Sandra met Ralph Shepherd in Houston, Texas, and they were married on March 5, 1962.

Initially starting their family in Shreveport, Louisiana, Sandra and Ralph then moved to Houston, where Sandra worked in the catalog order delivery department of Sears to help support Ralph and their family as he attended and completed law school to become a Texas licensed attorney in 1972. They eventually bought a home in the Houston suburb of Jersey Village where they raised their two sons, Boyd and Robb, from grade school through high school. During these years, Sandra was the model of the absolute best mom, wife, and homemaker, taking care of her husband and home, and helping her sons to grow into young men. Sandra helped the boys with their school work and projects, and drove them to and attended all of their sports activities.  Simultaneously, Sandra learned to fly a single engine airplane and became a private pilot along with Ralph. The family had many dogs as well as a few cats during this time, which she gave her love to as well.  Throughout the 70's, Sandra also developed her skills as an artist through painting lessons, creating many beautiful paintings to decorate their home.

Together, in 1977, Sandra and Ralph purchased 93 acres of prime farm and ranch land near Hempstead, Texas, where they successfully established a home and business in raising, showing, and breeding American Quarter Horses for several years. Sandra's joy and passion for working with animals, along with her natural abilities in horsemanship, allowed her to excel in halter events as well as western pleasure riding, with the majority of their horses being recognized in the industry as champions under her care and development.

After moving on from their life on the ranch with their horses and back to the suburbs of northwest Houston, Sandra turned her attention to supporting her husband in his continuing practice of law, and her sons as they completed college and professional educations in law and dentistry. Finally settling in Tomball, and along with Ralph, Sandra continued to find delight in her love and abilities in training and showing Scottish Terriers for the last 12 years.  Again, through hard work, diligence, natural abilities, and amazing passion, Sandra cared for, bred, and showed all of her Scotties in local, state, and national dog shows at the championship level. It is important to Sandra's family to acknowledge and thank with enormous gratitude all of her many close friends in the Scottish Terrier "arena" in the Houston area, the state of Texas, and around the country for their incredible unconditional love and support of her – she loved you all dearly, and you helped to bring her great joy during these last years.

Sandra's life's joy became complete being " Grandmother ," giving herself fully to the lives of her grandchildren - Erin, Warren, and Benjamin.  She delighted every day in learning of their many activities and accomplishments in school and sports.  Sandra shared her life's lessons and experiences with them, teaching them life skills that they will never forget learning from her.  Sandra unconditionally gave them everything that they asked for and more, and she loved them with all of her heart. They will greatly miss her beautiful and warm smile, her loving green eyes, her gentle touch, and her caring wisdom, and yet they will always have her with them as her surpassing love and influence assuredly lives on in their lives.

During the last 2 years, along with her daughter-in-law Terri, and with her many adoring friends in the Northwest/Cypress area ladies Community Bible Study group, Sandra found joy, peace, understanding, and additional loving friendships as she deepened her knowledge of God's Holy Word and her faith. It has been in this unwavering faith throughout the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of these last 7 years that Sandra displayed amazing strength and unshakable courage, all the while continuing to live life fully, and to love and care for her family and friends.

Our Sandra - Wife, Mom, Grandmother, and Friend – we miss you, and we give thanks to the Lord for your wonderful and beautiful life.

Sandra is survived by her husband Ralph Murray Shepherd; and by her son Boyd Wilson Shepherd and daughter-in-law Terri White Shepherd, and her grandchildren Erin Leigh Shepherd and Warren Boyd Shepherd; and by her son Robb William Shepherd and daughter-in-law Stacey Owen Shepherd, and her grandson Benjamin Owen Shepherd.

Through the incredible care and outstanding professionalism of Sandra's doctors, nurses, and caregivers at M. D. Anderson, Sandra and her family came to know and understand the trials that many go through in their battles against cancer. With thoughts of the children and their families enduring these challenges, the Shepherd family asks that for those who desire, memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.