Donald "Donnie" Sheppard

Donald “Donnie” Alan Sheppard, Sr. passed away on August 29, 2022. He was preceded in death by his parents Lucille and Carl A. Sheppard, Jr. He is survived by wife, Lynn Poston Sheppard; his children, Alan Sheppard (Nicole) and Jennifer Sheppard Jacobs (Ben); grandchildren, Gage, Ireland, Cash, and Carly; sister, Nancy J. Sheppard, and many friends and extended family. Donnie was born in Dearborn, Michigan and raised in Nashville in a “Ford” family. After graduating from Hillwood High School, he joined the United States Marine Corps and was a member of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. He honorably served his country during a tour to Vietnam in 1969-70. He was a pipe fitter by trade and a proud member of the UAW Local 737. After spending several years as the Union’s Health and Safety Representative, he retired from the Ford Glass Plant.

Donnie’s hands were never idle, and he often had several projects going at once. He enjoyed volunteering for Operation Stand Down, especially when it allowed him to cook for his fellow Veterans. He was an avid fisherman, golfer, a self-proclaimed foodie, a lover of music, and a traveler of the world. He was known for spoiling both his wife and their dog, Casey. The end of his life was well spent soaking up time with family and friends and visiting New Orleans, his favorite place on the planet.

The family would like to say a special thank you to Donnie’s oncology team at Vanderbilt and Alive Hospice for the exemplary care and compassion shown to Donnie during such a difficult time. They also encourage the vaccination of your loved ones against HPV, a common virus that can cause cancer later in life. Services to be held at Middle Tennessee Veteran’s Cemetery on September 9th at 2:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow, location TBD.