Clyde 'Rusty' Henry Sheppard

Clyde "Rusty" Henry Sheppard was born on Jan. 19, 1938, in Pioche, Nev., to Eugene and Ida Sheppard. His childhood was spent in Hailey and Twin Falls, Idaho. He developed his love of sports, and especially golf, as he worked as a caddy with his brother, Richard "Dick" Sheppard.

After graduation from high school, he attended the University of Idaho and studied chemistry. While there, he met his wife, Phyllis McAlexander, in a chemistry lab class. At the University of Idaho, he played on the men's golf team and served in the ROTC. Rusty and Phyllis were married on Sept. 6, 1958.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Rusty entered the Air Force as a 2nd lieutenant. After serving in the Chief Technical Services of the Air Force he was honorably discharged. During his military service, two children joined his family. Their names are Shari Lynn and Craig Thomas Sheppard. A third child, Jeffrey Clyde Sheppard, joined the family after he moved to Bellevue, Wash., in August 1965.

His professional career included working as a chemical and materials (Aerospace) engineer for several companies, including Monsanto, Boeing and the TRW Space group. Over his career he worked with engines on the B-52 Bomber and various polymers for Boeing's 737 and 747. His work with high temperature-resistant polymers contributed to the material creation for Pluto and Mercury probe, the early Apollo unmanned probes, and the Hubble Space Telescope.

In 1984, he was awarded the "Delmonte Award" by his professional organization, The Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering, an award designating him the top material engineer in the US for his work in high-performance polymers.

During his adult life he lived in Bellevue, Wash.; Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.; Post Falls and the Meridian/Nampa, Idaho areas.

Rusty, as his friends called him, was an outgoing, social, sports-minded individual. He volunteered his time serving his family, his community and his church. He was well-known as a soccer and golf coach and was an avid supporter of his grandchildren's activities. He had a strong desire to preserve the environment of northern Idaho and he served on the Kootenai County Water Commission, the Spokane River Association and the Bunker Hill Superfund site. He will be remembered most for his loving support and fun-loving nature by his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Sheppard; his parents, Eugene and Ida Sheppard; and his sister and brother-in-law, Lorraine and Bill McCollum. He is survived by his children, Shari and Scott Holland, Craig and Sue Sheppard and Jeffrey and Ronda Sheppard. Grandchildren are Shawna Sheppard, Erica Sheppard, Joshua Sheppard, Emily (Holland) Royce and Cameron Royce, Joseph Holland, Meeghan Sheppard, Samuel Holland, Gavin Sheppard and Kealyn Sheppard. He is survived by his brother, Richard and his wife, Linda Sheppard; his sister, Sarah Rojean O'Dell; and his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Carl Edgar. He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be at 10 a.m., followed by a service at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at Zeyer Funeral Chapel. A memorial service will be held in Post Falls, Idaho, in June. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer's Association or the University of Idaho Athletic Scholarship Fund.