Elizabeth Shepard-Eberly, 93

A life well lived. A life to be proud of. An inspiration to family, friends and everyone who met her. Betty Sheperd Eberly enjoyed 93 wonderful years on earth doing good work.   Betty was smart, educated, social, religious, and caring. She was involved in many activities to nurture her family, to support her community and for recreation.

Born in War, West Virginia 1930 and raised by Joe and Rose Hrametz in the coal mining town of  Pocahontas, Virginia, she grew up with two sisters, Josephine and Teresa.  She was valedictorian of her high school class and graduated from St. Louis University with a BS in Chemistry.  In 1950 Betty married Dr. Robert Sheperd (deceased in 1971).   They first settled in Toledo, then Texas, then Kentucky, then Toledo again, then finally West Unity in 1961. In 1980 after marrying her stock broker William Eberly (deceased) she moved back to Toledo.  She had 10 children with her first husband Robert Sheperd.

Her children, all surviving,  are:  Patricia Wicks  (Chris), Joe Sheperd, Dr. Dan Sheperd, DDS (Darlene), Carolyn Burns (Francis), Robert Sheperd (Maria), Charles Sheperd, Mary Justin Hayes (Harvey), Rosemary Krill (Joe deceased), Ken Sheperd (Angie) and Grover Sheperd.  She was blessed with 18 grandchildren: Nicole Ringer Evans (Chuck), Andrea Koslowsky (Jake), Stephanie Wicks, Stephen Wicks, Sarah Goel (Ankur), Meredith Sheperd (Katie), Justin Sheperd, Paul Sheperd (Larisa), Benjy Sheperd (Alicia), Michael Sheperd (Melanie), Sean Burns, Erin Burns (Isso), Francis BurWei (Rebecca), Mia Sheperd (engaged to Kurt Flatland), RJ Sheperd, Stephanie Hayes, Matthew Sheperd (Rachel), Jon Sheperd. She was also blessed with 29 great grandchildren.

She was a super mom: involved in the school, 4-H, encouraging all the children’s activities, keeping a beautiful home and supporting her very busy surgeon husband.  In the community she worked Daffodil Days for the American Cancer Society, Community Concert Association, the school board, and even did some substitute teaching.

Mom kept physically fit with biking, swimming, gardening and chasing kids and babies.  She played piano and did watercolor paintings of barns.  She was in numerous bridge clubs, a golf league and liked dancing. She loved going to garage sales and having garage sales. She loved to bargain and shop for deals. We were exposed to all sorts of activities from making rolls, pies and Hungarian dishes to snow skiing to going to Toledo Zoo.

She wanted us to be “well rounded”. She allowed us to have horses, rabbits, and cats. She encouraged music especially band, and art.  She encouraged all her children to volunteer, join clubs and play sports.

Betty’s Catholic religion and praying to God were also important.  The family prayed before meals and before bed. She showed her children how to have a happy marriage and be good citizens.

She will also be remembered for her generosity, giving her pies and her time to help neighbors and friends. Her family is close-knit, having a large, multi-generational reunion every year at her farm to reconnect. She always looked forward to these get-togethers where children, spouses, grandchildren, and now great grandchildren all make an effort to come.

Betty joined her husbands and pre-deceased relatives and friends on September 23rd, 2024.  She was with her daughters, Trisha and Carolyn as she passed away in her sleep.  She will be fondly remembered for her strong spirit and dedication to God and family.

Visitation for Elizabeth will be on Friday, September 27th from 9-11am in Miller Hall.  A Funeral Mass will follow at 11am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Stephen Stanberry to officiate.  She will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in Montpelier following Mass.  The family requests in lieu of flowers donations can be made to any of the following charities: American Cancer Society, Gesu and Pilgrim Church in Toledo, Sacred Heart Church in Montpelier, Ohio.