DANIEL FRANCIS LEROY SHEPPARD

Daniel Francis Leroy Sheppard, better known as Roy, passed away unexpectedly March 13, 2002 at the Midland General Hospital while recovering from surgery.
His granddaughter, Dawn-Marie, and great-granddaughter, Regan, were beside him.
Roy was born to Francis and Bridget Catherine (O’Leary) Sheppard in Toronto, Ont. on Feb. 22, 1921. At the age of 20, he enlisted with the Queen’s Own Rifles of Toronto and landed at Bemieres-sur-Mer on D-Day.
His tour of duty took him through Normandy, Belgium, and culminated with the liberation of Holland.
Upon returning to civilian life, Roy became an O.P.P. officer with the Barrie detachment on June 5, 1951. During his career, he also would serve at the Port Credit, Britt, Bala, Parry Sound, and Emo detachments.
He retired from the O.P.P. (Emo detachment) on Oct. 31, 1983 with 32 years of service and the rank of corporal.
He was united in marriage to Evelyn Rose Summers on March 27, 1958 in Toronto, Ont. While they lived in Toronto and Parry Sound initially, Roy and Ev would call Emo home for most of their married life.
The family enjoyed summers at their cabin on Rainy Lake and outdoor recreation of fishing, and deer and moose hunting. Roy was always busy with the latest home renovation or garden project that Ev would inspire.
While Roy was travelling home from a visit with his mother in Toronto, he met his second wife, Marjorie Willet. They were married Nov. 11, 1989 at her Midland, Ont. home.
After living in Emo a short time, the couple would make their home in Midland. Their hobby gardening there would lead to varied plantings of fruit trees, flowers, and grape vines.
Roy’s sense of humour will truly be missed. He had a steady supply of jokes or humorous stories, and was always ready to pull pranks on family, friends, and colleagues. Even in recounting family and war stories, he would be sure to include tales of humour or irony.
There were times when Roy’s love of debate often would lead him to provoke family and friends into verbal sparring matches. His choice of reading reflected his life—accounts of war, crime stories, or the “rough justice” of westerns.
Roy was a life-long member of the Royal Canadian Legion. Upon his retirement, Roy’s desire to travel would take him to Mexico, P.E.I., and the southwestern United States, particularly the “Old West Towns.”
Roy was predeceased by his wives, Evelyn and Marjorie; parents, Frank and Catherine; sisters, Ruth Alward and Helen Dolores Sheppard; granddaughter, Evelyn; and grandson, Barry Rogers.
He will be sadly missed by his family, sons, Cameron (Dusty) and his wife, Donna, Vincent and his wife, Shirley, and Frank and his wife, Diane; grandchildren, Jeannie, Michael and his wife, Melanie, Dawn-Marie and her husband, Andrew Danylchuk, Lance and his wife, Susan, Daniel, Jonathan, Kirsten, Robert, Breanna, and Rebecca; and great-grandchildren, Erika and Victoria Sheppard, and Regan Danylchuk.
Internment will take place at the Emo Municipal Cemetery, with a graveside service for family members.
In memoriam donations may be made to the charity of your choice.