Evelyn Louise Sheppard, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2026, in Springfield at the age of 95.

Evelyn was born in Tama, Iowa, to John and Flossie Clark. When she was a young girl, her family moved to Springfield, Missouri, where she grew up and completed her middle school years at Pipkin Middle School.

On November 25, 1947, Evelyn married the love of her life, Roy Sheppard. Their love story began as neighbors and blossomed into a lifelong partnership.

Never one to shy away from hard work, Evelyn began her career as a car hop before taking a job on the assembly line at Lilly Tulip. Determined to achieve her dream of owning her own business, she saved every dollar she could until she purchased Shep’s Sunset Inn, located at the corner of West Chestnut Expressway and West Bypass 13

From 1950 until 1975, Evelyn proudly owned and operated the neighborhood establishment.

In 1975, Evelyn and Roy purchased a dairy farm near Fair Grove, Missouri. Evelyn delighted in caring for their many animals, giving each one its own special name and treating them as members of the family.

Evelyn was a faithful member of the Methodist Church in Fair Grove, where she taught PACE (People with Arthritis Can Exercise) classes for many years. She found great fulfillment in encouraging others to stay active and healthy while building lasting friendships within her church community.

Evelyn had a lifelong passion for auto racing. She especially admired legendary racer Larry Phillips and followed races wherever she could, from Bolivar, Monett, and Lebanon to the excitement of Daytona 500. She and Roy even owned two race cars themselves, and Evelyn often said she wished she could have raced. At every race, she enthusiastically rang her beloved cowbell, which she later donated to a local racing museum so it could continue to be part of the sport she loved.

When they weren’t on the farm, Evelyn and Roy enjoyed traveling together, especially taking cruises throughout the Caribbean. Those adventures created countless cherished memories and reflected their shared love of seeing the world together.

Family meant everything to Evelyn. She treasured her nieces and nephews, who fondly remember visiting her both at Shep’s Sunset Inn and later on the family farm.

Evelyn found joy in life’s simple pleasures. She faithfully read the newspaper from front to back every day, loved playing card games of every kind, including rummy, poker, Slap Jack, and even Go Fish with the younger members of the family, and never passed up the chance to ride an amusement park ride. Roller coasters were among her favorites, and she embraced every thrill with the same fearless spirit that defined her life.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Roy Sheppard; her parents, John and Flossie Clark; her son, Jimmy Sheppard; her siblings, Mary Agee, Marvin Clark, Arlie Clark, Cecil Clark Sr., Bobby Clark, and Larry Clark; and many cherished pets who held a special place in her heart.

She is survived by her loving nieces and nephews, many dear friends, her sisters-in-law, Donna Clark and Dorothy Clark, and countless people whose lives were enriched by her kindness, strength, generosity, and unforgettable personality.

Evelyn will be remembered as a determined, hardworking woman who built the life she dreamed of, loved fiercely, laughed often, and embraced every adventure. Her legacy of resilience, generosity, and love will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.