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Mary Evelyn Shepherd, 75 of McHenry, Kentucky, passed away on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. She was born on May 6, 1950 in Ohio County, Kentucky to the late Gilbert and Flora Maddox Sailing. Mary was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy in Beaver Dam and was a line worker at Sumatomo and Diacel. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, collecting House of Lloyd Dolls and she loved flowers.
Aside from her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Silas Shepherd; four siblings, Peggy Letizia, Donald Sailing, Alma Jean Lewis and Ronnie Sailing; three brothers in law, Larry Minton, Jimmy Lewis an Alfonz Letizia and one sister-in-law, Bonnie Sailing.
She leaves behind to cherish many precious memories, her children, Julie Diana (Don) Decker of Hartford, Joseph Silas Shepherd of McHenry and Joshua Nathan (Crystal Britt) Shepherd of Beaver Dam; four grandchildren, Katie (Benjamin “Tyler”) Jewell, Don Decker Jr., Joseph Silas Shepherd, Jr. and Sarah Decker; one great-grandchild, Lakelyn Rae Jewell; six siblings, Brenda Carol (Roger) Schroader of Horse Branch, Thelma “Lois” Minton of McHenry, Calvin Ray (Debbie) Sailing of Hartford, Bonnie Rose (Jack) Kasee of Rockport, Sheila Robin Black of Beaver Dam and Jackie Glenn (Carla) Sailing of Beaver Dam; one sister-in-law, Mary Sailing and her beloved dog, Betty.
Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Monday, January 19, 2026 at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam with Bro. Chris Lewis and Rev. Kenny Shepherd officiating. Burial will follow in Echols Cemetery in Echols. Friends may visit with Mary’s family from 3-7 P.M. on Sunday and from 9 A.M. until the time of the service on Monday at the funeral home.
Online messages of condolence may be left for the family of Mary Evelyn Shepherd by visiting her memorial tribute at www.danksfuneralhome.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Evelyn (Sailing) Shepherd, please visit our floral store.