Wallace D. Shephard, 82, of Ontario, a former longtime Baker City resident and well-known chef, died Sept. 22, 2001, at an Ontario hospital of natural causes.
His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Ontario’s Lienkaemper Chapel. There will be a graveside service at 2 p.m. PDT at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Mr. Shephard was born Nov. 13, 1918, at Baker City to Delbert W. and Cordelia Yeager Shephard. He married La Neva E. Scott on June 20, 1937, at Klamath Falls.
The couple returned to Baker City soon after their marriage and remained here until 1964. Mr. Shephard became a well-known chef, including successful working stints at both the Hotel Baker and Geiser Grand.
During World War II, he served as a ship’s cook 3rd Class in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1945 as a disabled American veteran.
Returning to Baker City, he continued his restaurant business in which his most memorable functions were as an originator of the Durkee Steak Feed and the chef for Sen. John F. Kennedy’s campaign luncheon.
In 1964, he and his wife moved to Weiser, Idaho, where they operated the restaurant in the Washington Hotel. They moved to Ontario in 1970. They operated the La Paloma Restaurant for five years and then retired after 10 successful years at the Charlois where Mr. Shephard was executive chef.
He was a valued charter member of the Chefs De Cuisine of Idaho, past commander of the Disabled American Veterans of Baker City and a member of the Weiser Elks Lodge and the American Legion.
He was a great man, a dedicated husband and an excellent father and grandfather. “Our memories of him will be forever cherished and the love he gave to his family and friends shall never be forgotten,” his family said.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, La Neva; children, Sharron Ewing and her husband, Duane, Wallace Shephard and his wife, Sherrie, Carolyn Medlin and her husband, Jerry, Delbert Shephard, and Christina Bonadiman and her husband, Brent; 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, three sisters and a great-granddaughter.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, October 7, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor