Shepard, Norman Frank

Norman Frank Shepard, 68, of St. Louis passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022.

On July 31, 1953 in St. Louis, Norman was born to Wilber and Charlotte (nee Rossbach) Shepard and raised with his brothers Wolf, Wil and Cliff.

Life-Long Love of Sports

From a young age, Norman developed a love of sports which continued throughout his life. Several of his teenage years were spent playing football for Southwest High School.  After graduation Norman transitioned his athletic abilities over to the various softball fields of south St. Louis, playing along-side many of his life-long friends. A highlight of his softball career was being featured with them (and his beloved Great Dane, Pup Pup) in a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article in the 1970s.

Norman also enjoyed spending a large portion of his adult life on the golf course with friends as well as perfecting his swing at the driving range.

Professional and Family Life

After graduation, Norman spent the majority of his working years in various positions throughout St. Louis, including the main U.S. Post Office on Market Street.

He met and married Linda Grissom and they had one daughter, Kelly Marie Charlotte in 1980.

Beloved Dad & Pa-Pa

Norman had a close relationship with his daughter, sharing and passing down to Kelly his love of family, friends, softball, animals, music and also classic movies and game shows like Jeopardy which they enjoyed watching together.

In 1999, Norman found his spiritual home in the Catholic Church and both he and his daughter were received into the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Martin of Tours in Lemay.

When Kelly went to college, Norman moved to California and the West Coast.  He was a frequent visitor to St. Louis especially when his daughter permanently settled back in their hometown after graduation.  He proudly celebrated her marriage to Willie Brown in 2006 and the birth of their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Brown in 2010.

As he had with Kelly, Norman had a close relationship with his granddaughter Charlotte, named after his mother and sharing his own daughter’s middle name.  This “fan of Charlottes” was a proud and active Pa-Pa, reading books, listening to music and singing songs with her.  Norman especially loved being outdoors with his Charlotte whether playing at the playground or in her neighborhood riding bikes and blowing bubbles. One special family memory was when Pa-Pa moved back to St. Louis for the summer of 2018 to watch Charlotte when Kelly started a new job at the Respect Life Apostolate.

In 2021, Norman moved back to St. Louis permanently to be closer to his family.

Memorial

Norman was preceded in death by his parents, Wilber (2002) and Charlotte (2007), and brothers Wolf (2016) and Wil (2019). He is survived by his daughter Kelly and her husband Willie Brown, St. Louis; granddaughter Charlotte, 11; and brother Cliff and his wife Sharron of Diamond Bar, CA; nieces and nephews, and many friends.

Family and friends will be received from 9 to 10 a.m. at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Lemay on Friday, February 18. A funeral Mass at 10 a.m. and reception will follow.  Interment will be at New St. Marcus Cemetery in Affton.