Janet Gail Shepherd

Janet “Jan” Gail Shepherd passed away December 22, 2022, at the age of 90, at St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach, California. She will be missed and remembered for her intelligence, happy disposition, love of animals and her many pets, and dedication to students she taught.

Jan was born November 19, 1932, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Kansas natives, Robert Ralph and Mae Belle (Peret) Shepherd. She was the youngest of six. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a BA in Education, focused on physical education.

After college, Janet worked in Kansas City in the Girl Scout Organization where she rose in the ranks. It was on a Professional Development trip that Jan fell in love with California. Against her mother’s wishes she drove to California to start her career as a teacher in Los Angeles. She retired from the Long Beach Unified School District having taught PE, geography, and English.

Jan learned to snow-ski in California and helped pioneer dry-land skiing courses for the Long Beach Parks and Recreation Department with her lifetime friend and colleague, Katie Stone. While her parents were alive, Jan spent many summers in Missouri visiting family and friends. She was close with and assisted her mother’s two aging sisters, who lived in the Long Beach area.

In later years, Janet’s sister, Mary “Elizabeth” Carroll, moved from Colorado to Long Beach, purchasing the house next door. With Elizabeth back in California, the sisters had many happy years together, with Elizabeth passing in January of 2013.

Throughout her life Jan enjoyed snow-skiing, canoeing, and the outdoors. She traveled the world and made trips with sister Elizabeth and brother Findley including safaris in Africa, where giraffes became a favorite.

Just a month before Janet passed, her neighbors gave Jan a ninetieth birthday celebration. It was a happy outdoor gathering, following years of covid isolation, and Janet’s long convalescence from a 2019 fall that broke a femur. Neighbors, friends, two nieces, and a local Girl Scout Troop attended. The Troop performed several singing tributes to Jan, who was thoroughly enthralled.

On Pearl Harbor Day Janet remembered her brothers and the war years in a message to her nieces. She was nine years old in December 1941, and brother Eugene’s ship was in for repairs at Pearl Harbor. She wrote of each brothers’ war-time service, how the families had worried, and how everyone had pulled together. Thankfully her brothers all returned home safely.

Janet is survived by one nephew: Vincent and Anne’s son, Douglas Shepherd (NY), and three nieces: Eugene and Doris’ daughters Cynthia Shepherd (CA), Nancy Shepherd (MO) and Linda Jensen (CA). Also surviving are her grandniece, Caroline Welch (NY) and grandnephew, Christopher Welch (NY).

She was predeceased by her parents Robert Ralph and Mae Belle; five siblings, Robert “Vincent,” Mary “Elizabeth” Carroll, Edgar James, Findley Peret, and Eugene “Gene” Ralph; and two nieces, Vincent and Anne’s daughters Carol Shepherd Welch and Susan Shepherd.

No service will be held. Remembrances and photos may be shared at www.luybendilday.com