Ogden Utah - Julie Ann Shepherd Stockdale, passed away on September 15, 2023, 6 days shy of her 83rd birthday.
She was born on September 21, 1940, in Montpelier, Idaho, to Edward Grenville "Pete" Shepherd and Julia Margaret Gerber. Julie was the first child of the family and the only daughter, followed by three younger brothers.
Julie's early years were filled with the simple joys and hardships of growing up on a farm in Sharon, Idaho. She spoke fondly of those formative years. At the age of 12, she faced the unexpected loss of her father. This heartbreaking event led the family to move to Montpelier, Idaho.
Julie embraced her high school years at Montpelier High School and maintained a strong connection with her classmates. She always made the effort to attend high school reunions, even when she lived on the East Coast.
Julie moved to Salt Lake City, Utah after high school, married (later divorced) and had 4 children. After her retirement, she added another "child" to her family, her beloved dog, Verdie.
Once divorced, Julie moved to the Washington DC area in the early 1970's and was fortunate enough to be hired by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for the United States of America. During her nearly 3 decades of dedicated service, she received numerous awards and promotions.
Julie's grandkids will always have great memories of Grandma Julie's summer trips to Utah, where they spent time at Bear Lake and "Chuck-a Grandma" -the grandkids term of endearment for the restaurant Chuck-a-Rama.
For the older grandkids, the weeks they spent with Grandma Julie back East exploring historical sites were unforgettable. Each day was carefully documented in scrapbooks, a testament of her dedication to preserving their shared adventures.
She loved playing video games and her grandkids loved having a grandma who could challenge their video game skills.
Julie loved to collect things. She had a cute and creative way of displaying her "treasures", as she called them. There was a method to her madness in her choice of what went where.
When asked how her parents would describe her, Julie said, "they would say I had potential." That she did. She excelled in the things she chose to excel in. She mastered making stuffed bears, similar to her favorite Boyds Bears. She knitted, crocheted, and enjoyed making holiday crafts as a young homemaker.
Julie found joy in scrapbooking, preserving forgotten moments in countless photo albums, which she leaves behind as keepsakes for her family.
She appreciated her family heritage on both the Gerber and Shepherd sides and knew who each of her ancestors and their families were and felt a bond to them.
After retiring, Julie made her home in Ogden, Utah, with her dog Verdie. We are grateful to her neighbors Kaylee and Landon, They, along with her brother Russ, watched out for her. Julie was fiercely independent and did not want to be a burden on anybody. However, when necessary, she trusted them to help her out.
Julie is survived by her children Shelly Shoell (Kevin), Mike, Sean, and Bart (Becky) Stockdale. Brothers, Ted (Renae) Shepherd and Russell (Arlene) Shepherd and sister-in-law Edith Shepherd. 14 Grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her brother "Georgie" (Ray) Shepherd and her cherished dog Verdie.
Published by Deseret News from Oct. 17 to Oct. 22, 2023.