McHENRY, Ky. — Mary Evelyn Shepherd, 75 of McHenry, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. She was born on May 6, 1950, in Ohio County, Kentucky, to the late Gilbert and Flora Maddox Sailing.
Mary was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy in Beaver Dam and was a line worker at Sumatomo and Diacel. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, collecting House of Lloyd Dolls and she loved flowers.
Aside from her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Silas Shepherd; four siblings, Peggy Letizia, Donald Sailing, Alma Jean Lewis, and Ronnie Sailing; three brothers-in-law, Larry Minton, Jimmy Lewis, and Alfonz Letizia; and one sister-in-law, Bonnie Sailing.
She leaves behind to cherish many precious memories, her children, Julie Diana (Don) Decker, of Hartford, Kentucky, Joseph Silas Shepherd, of McHenry, and Joshua Nathan (Crystal Britt) Shepherd, of Beaver Dam, Kentucky; four grandchildren, Katie (Benjamin “Tyler”) Jewell, Don Decker Jr., Joseph Silas Shepherd Jr., and Sarah Decker; one great-grandchild, Lakelyn Rae Jewell; six siblings, Brenda Carol (Roger) Schroader, of Horse Branch, Kentucky, Thelma “Lois” Minton, of McHenry, Calvin Ray (Debbie) Sailing, of Hartford, Bonnie Rose (Jack) Kasee, of Rockport, Kentucky, Sheila Robin Black, of Beaver Dam, and Jackie Glenn (Carla) Sailing, of Beaver Dam; one sister-in-law, Mary Sailing; and her beloved dog, Betty.
Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam with Bro. Chris Lewis and Rev. Kenny Shepherd officiating. Burial will follow in Echols Cemetery in Echols, Kentucky. Friends may visit with Mary’s family from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday and from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday at the funeral home.
Online messages of condolence may be left for the family of Mary Evelyn Shepherd by visiting her memorial tribute at www.danksfuneralhome.com.