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Our mother LaVerna Jean (Svoboda) Shepherd passed September 7, 2017 after a very short battle with cancer at home with her loving family.
LaVerna was born on Nov 4th, 1937 in Dorchester, Nebraska. She and her identical twin, LaVina, were the youngest of eight children born to Gladys (Novotny) and John Svoboda.
LaVerna graduated from Lincoln High School in 1955 and then she married Rollin Lee "Shep" Shepherd in 1963 and shortly after moved to Oregon where LaVerna worked for Judson Middle School for 23 years until her retirement. LaVerna and Shep met though the Pioneer group at First Baptist in Lincoln, NE and were very instrumental in putting together the Pioneer reunion in 2000 which was attended by over 75 past Pioneers from all over the country.
Shep passed in 2005 after 41 years of marriage survived by their children Dane and Troy Shepherd, Tawnya & (Ryan) Zwicker and 4 grandchildren; Andrew, Katie, Riley Zwicker and Cheyenne Shepherd which are all still residing in Salem, and two sisters Twilia Forgarty and LaVina Hagan.
Over the last 15 years LaVerna donated her time to the Salem Assistance League and worked at her daughter's bowling center in Silverton for the last 11years, where she spent more time with family and enjoyed watching her grandchildren bowl.
She was so loved by so many who wanted to spend time with her which was always limited by the vast amount of friends and family that surrounded her.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorial donations may be made to the Salem Assistance League.
A private family gathering will be held.
Private Family Gathering
Sad to find out that LaVerna has passed. I was her across the street neighbor on Juniper Avenue in Crete and chummed around with her brother Eddie. The twins were one year ahead of me with my brother Joe Dymacek. Nothing but good memories!