Part Alligator and Part Buck Deer- Joe Sheppard Memorial

In Memory of Joe Sheppard

December 22, 1933- September 9, 1989

September 9th is the 20 year anniversary of my grandfather passing away. I remember him like it was yesterday. It was the most difficult thing I have ever had to deal with. Life will never be the same with out him. He was a wonderful man and a wonderful grandfather. He was elk hunting in Pie Town New Mexico when he passed away. He had just retired from the Sheriff’s Department 9 months earlier. He was Sheriff of Highlands County for 12 years. Before that he was a State Trooper for 16 years. He started off as a Game Warden. He was also in the Navy. He had many accomplishments. I believe that he would have had many more. My grandma said that he had mentioned running for state senator when he got back to Florida. She said no way. She did not like having attention on her. I think that my life would have been much different had he lived. But we can’t dwell on the past. I have my precious memories.

We thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new. We thought about you yesterday and days before that too. We think of you in silence, we often speak your name All we have now are memories and your picture in a frame Your memory is our keepsake with which we'll never part GOD has you in his keeping, We have you in our hearts. A million times we cried, If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died. In life we loved you dearly In death we love you still In our hearts you hold a place No one could ever fill It broke our hearts to loose you, but you didn't go alone,,,,for part of us went with you............The day God took you home.