Stanley Arthur "Art Shepheard" Shepheard

After a long, happy and adventurous life, S. Arthur Shepheard, passed away peacefully in La Mesa, California on the morning of May 20, 2015, just 4 months shy of his 80th birthday.

Arthur was born in Thornaby, Yorkshire, England on September 27, 1935 to Annie and Raymond Shepheard. He had an older sister, Freda, a younger sister, Thelma, who survive him. His earliest memories were of running into bomb shelters and having to wear a gas mask as WWII bombs swirled overhead. He survived the bombing and a youth of escapades and motorcycles (aided and abetted by his best friend, Tommy Thomas) to marry the love of his life, Mary in 1958, and then to build homes with her in Norton, England; Calgary, Canada; and La Mesa, California. He loved the US and his home in La Mesa the most. He often said marrying Mary was the best decision of his life, and choosing to live in La Mesa, California was his second best decision.

Arthur worked on newspapers for many years, including the San Diego Union Tribune, and founded several small businesses, including Artex Printing, which was located on La Mesa Blvd. for many years. In his spare time Art was the long time, award winning Bulletin Editor, past President, and the 1986 Lion of the Year of the La Mesa Lions. He was also an avid reader, writer, crossword player and golf spectator.

In addition to making homes in three countries, Art visited every country in the world that he was interested in and that was not too cold or too wet. He jumped out of airplanes, piloted airplanes, walked the Great Wall of China, and dove in the Great Barrier Reef. At the age of 50 he took up running and successfully completed many marathons and half marathons. He was also an avid cyclist, especially enjoying the Rosarita-Ensenada 50 Mile Bike Ride (free beer), which he first participated in by riding his daughter’s 3-speed Huffy (he later bought several more bikes, most 50 times more expensive that that old Huffy). To celebrate his 66th birthday Art trained for and then climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. In his later years, he settled down to tour the United States and Canada in his RV with his wife, Mary. After visiting every state at least once, he decided to do it again, just in case he missed something.

Arthur lived with acute and debilitating illnesses and ailments-that would have felled a weaker man decades earlier-but he pushed through them and would not let them slow him down. As Art’s body seized up and fell apart, his heart, his determination, and his love of life held strong.

Arthur is survived by his loving, and much loved wife of 57 years, Mary Shepheard; his daughters Janet (Polly) Shepheard Ferguson and Susan Shepheard Crawford; his much loved grandchildren, Hannah, Evan and Abby Lineberry; Sarah and Ethan Crawford; and his adoring great-grandchildren, Zade Lineberry and Blaze and Jett Bentz.

No regrets. No flowers. In lieu of services, pour yourself a Manhattan and plan a great adventure.

Art’s last words to his much beloved wife were, “I think it’s Christmas Day, Mary”. A perfect ending to a wonderful life.