Edith Funk Shepherd 1910 ~ 2004  At 93, still a genteel, bright, loving and involved lady, Edith slept peacefully away as she wished, in the company of her beloved son, Robert, and his wife, Roberta, at the Care Source Hospice Center. A stroke only six days before took her from her home of 39 years. Until then, she never lost her sense of humor or her love of chocolate. Edith was born November 13, 1910, in Richmond, Utah, a daughter of Lucy Merrill and James William Funk. She was educated in Richmond schools and North Cache Utah School, where she graduated as valedictorian. She graduated from Utah State University (then Utah State Agricultural college) and was a member Chi Omega Sorority, serving two years as president, Theta Alph Phi, honorary theater society, Phi Kappa Phi, honorary scholastic society. She taught school in Paris, Idaho and in Granite High School in Salt Lake County. She never stopped loving to learn. She married Charles Rich Shepherd August 23, 1937, in the Salt Lake Temple. Both Edith and Charles taught in the LDS Seminary at Afton, Wyoming, and Edith in the Star Valley High School before moving to Hyrum, Utah, where Charles taught seminary in the South Cache High School  seminary. At the beginning of World War II they moved to Salt Lake City, where Charles worked at Hill Field for the duration of the war. Edith taught English at the University of Utah and in Salt Lake City schools, at Horace Mann Junior High School and then at South High School as an English teacher and as a librarian. She loved her students and they her. For her friends she was a resource of the latest in what to read. She was a true professional, serving as a leader in teachers' organizations, as a building representative, as a member of the Executive Council of Salt Lake Teachers' Association, and as chief negotiator for the teachers for two years. Edith served her church with the same devotion and instinctive ability. Never content with anything less than excellence, she was a member of the YWMIA General Board for 12 years and then a member of the newly established Church Correlation Committee. Respected counterpart to Lowell L. Bennion, she was chairman of the Youth Committee for Girls, in charge of writing lessons. In 1955 Edith and Charles established and for more than 25 years owned Kiddie Ville, Inc., a unique children's store featuring clothing, furniture, and toys in Provo and Orem. Though Edith lost much of her eyesight to macular degeneration as well as the ability to move well from her automatic chair, she maintained in her own home the same gracious hospitality that made her a favorite to visit. Her cheerful and insightful conversation never dimmed. She outlived all of her birth family and most of her close friends, but she kept in loving and candid touch with the world beyond her rooms and never lost interest in those others she so thoroughly loved. She is survived by son Robert and his wife, Roberta, four grandchildren, Elizabeth, David, Emily (Mrs. Jacob Gienger), and Ashley (Mrs. Ryan Johnson), and three great-grand-children, Ian, Hannah, and Caleb  Gienger.  Her funeral will be held Saturday, January 24, at 11 a.m. at Monument Park 15th Ward, 1320 South Wasatch Drive, following a gathering at 10:30 a.m. for family. Burial will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 So. Highland Drive.

Published by Deseret News on Jan. 23, 2004.