Gwendolyn Kay (Loftin) Shepherd

 Gwendolyn Kay Loftin-Shepherd was born on June 30,1956 in Diboll, Texas, to the late Joe Loftin Sr. and Annie Dykes-Loftin. She was raised in Diboll, Texas surrounded by her siblings and multitudes of cousins. Gwen graduated from Diboll High School and in 1981, while working for Louisiana Pacific she met her soul mate of 42 years, Elether Shepherd. After the union of heart and soul they began to grow and expand their family.

 Gwen later spent her career surrounding herself with what she loved the most, children. Throughout her career in education, she worked for Huntsville Independent School District where students loved and admired her loving, accepting and inclusive personality. They often broke into song as she served them meals singing the “Lunch Lady Song” that she grew to love. Gwen then moved into a deeper role in education at Diboll Junior High in Diboll, TX. Until her departure, Gwen was still in contact with and had relationships with her students whose lives she impacted. Gwen completed her career in education at Lynn Lucan Middle School in Willis, TX. It was there she met some of her best friends. She was commonly found at every school function, at all after school events as she was a member of the Willis Wildcats Football Booster Club. She was always teased by her daughter that she owned more purple clothes than the entire school combined. She loved to watch her students grow into strong, mature adults as she followed many into adulthood.

Gwen is preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Annie Loftin, her brother Joe Loftin Jr., brother Jerry Loftin, sister, Carla Loftin-Guillen, and her son Joshua E. Shepherd.

 Gwen has left so many to cherish and share in the fond memories including her husband of 42 years, Mr. Elether Shepherd. In addition to her soul mate, she leaves 6 children including son, Elether Joe Shepherd, Son, Lonnie Shepherd and wife Brandy Taylor – Shepherd, Adam Fitzgerald Shepherd and wife Morgan Shepherd, son, Jerry Wayne Ellis Jr, and daughter, Tracy Ellis and husband Ernest Arellano. From her seven children, she gained her deepest loves which were her 24 grandchildren Also a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.