Claudette Julia (Shepherd) Kammerer was born February 26, 1958, on the US Naval Base at Jacksonville, FL, to Phillip and Edith (Dow) Shepherd. Claudette then lived with her family in Corpus Christi, TX, Memphis, TN, and Virginia Beach, VA, moving to Goodland, KS, when she was in the second grade. She continued to attend school in Goodland, graduating from Goodland High School in 1976. When Claudette was in the seventh grade, she met someone that would change the trajectory of her entire life, Marcy (Doerfer) Hodder. Marcy’s family took Claudette in as one of their own and showed her what it was like to live in a family filled with love and acceptance. Marcy became Claudette’s best friend, more of a sister. Claudette lived with the Doerfer’s off and on for years. Until Claudette’s passing, if you were to ask her, she would tell you that she loved Marcy and her family and would still consider Marcy to be her best friend and sister.  Marcy’s family was still considered by Claudette to be Claudette’s family.

In 1977 Claudette met the love of her life, Tim Kammerer, and they were married in January of 1978. A more love-filled marriage would be impossible to find. Shortly after their wedding, Claudette and Tim moved to Houston, TX, so that Tim could accept a job working for 3M. On July 23, 1978, Claudette gave birth to her first child, a daughter,

Shari Dawn (Kammerer) Gorden. Shari would grow up to be Claudette’s most special best friend, and she provided much needed assistance to Claudette as her health began to fail. In 1979 Claudette, Tim, and baby Shari moved back to Kansas, relocating to Cheney, KS. The first week they lived in Cheney, Claudette met Doris (Fisher) Viner. They became very good friends and Claudette loved Doris for the rest of her life.

In September of 1980, Claudette gave birth to her second child, a son, Samuel Lee Kammerer. They made Cheney their home until 1998, at which time they moved to Fort Collins, CO. They lived in Fort Collins until 2001, when Tim accepted employment in St.

Louis, MO, with Philips Medical Group. Claudette’s heart was broken to leave her adult children in Fort Collins, but they were employed there, and within a year they’d both moved to St. Louis to be near their parents.

In 2003 the family moved to Springfield, MO, a dream come true for Tim and Claudette.

After years of family vacationing in the Branson/Springfield area, they had always felt the need to call it home. They eventually purchased a home they loved in Springfield.

Claudette is survived by her spouse, Tim Kammerer, her mother, Edith Grace (Dow) Shepherd, and three sisters, Shirley Margaret (Shepherd) Seaman, Elizabeth Grace (Shepherd) Wooden, and Carol Anne (Shepherd) Lynch. Also surviving Claudette are her daughter, Shari Dawn (Kammerer) Gorden and her husband, Brian Ray Gorden, son, Samuel Lee Kammerer, and his wife Emily Joy (Keithley) Kammerer. She also leaves behind many nephews and nieces: Alicyn Ringler, Phillip Craig, Steven Floyd, Daniel Wooden, Gregory Lynch, Stuart Lynch and Alyssa (Lynch) Shutt.

Claudette will always be remembered for being a loving, cherished Grandma. She is survived by five grandchildren, the joys of her life. Her grandchildren are: From her son, Samuel: Levi Thomas Kammerer, Maribel Rose Kammerer, and Emmett Michael Kammerer. And from Shari, the twins: Kameron Timothy Gorden and Kaleb Ray

Gorden. Even in the darkest times of her excruciating, debilitating health conditions, the love for and from her grandchildren saw her through.

Claudette will always be remembered by her spirit of care, love, and acceptance for all people. She helped so many people in their times of need. Her sense of humor was the hallmark of her personality.

Claudette passed on July 8, 2026 after years of declining health from Panhypopituitarism, Central Secondary Hypothyroidism, Secondary Growth Hormone Deficiency, Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency, Secondary Small Nerve Fiber Polyneuropathy and End Stage Renal Disease. She lived with debilitating pain but was a champion to others in pain who found themselves in a similar predicament, the inability to obtain proper pain control due to the Opioid Epidemic, resulting in targeting bona fide pain patients rather than street drug dealers and users.

After much consideration, Claudette decided to have a cremation of her remains and no funeral. Plans will be made for a celebration of life at a later date. She loved parties and we feel there is no better way to celebrate her.

In lieu of flowers, she asked that all donations to be made to:

The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy:

https://www.foundationforpn.org/

and/or

Adrenal Insufficiency United

adrenal insufficiency united | nationwide (aiunited.org)

and/or

American Kidney Fund

https://give.kidneyfund.org/donate-now/safety-net

Arrangements are under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home South.