May 19, 1968 – Aug. 22, 2024
Marlborough – Paul Edward Shepherd, Jr. passed peacefully on August 22, 2024, surrounded by his family who loved him deeply and unconditionally. He was the son of Paul Edward Shepherd, Sr. and Martha Priester Shepherd.
He was a graduate of McClellan High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. He attended the University of Arkansas in Little Rock where he majored in Radio, TV, and Film.
He was the former local host of NPR’s Morning Edition for the radio station KUAR in Little Rock, Arkansas and a retired photo lab supervisor at CVS in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
He was the beloved husband for 28 years to Marcia Ann Shepherd and brother-in-law to Joe Berard. He was the proud twin brother of Paula Shepherd Beasse and brother-in-law Chris Beasse of Little Rock, Arkansas. He had many dear cousins back in Arkansas as well as an aunt, Nelmays Connelly and a cousin, Sherie Willard in South Carolina and several nieces and nephews in New England. He leaves behind many friends around the world, including a friend, more like a brother, Larry Gordon of Texas. He also leaves behind a traveling and music friend Amy Watkins of Florida.
Paul was born May 19, 1968, in Beaufort, South Carolina at the Naval Hospital. Being a twin, he was born breech almost folded over. He told people he was born showing his butt and his sister was born walking. He said he was born showing his butt, so he didn’t have to do that for the rest of his life. His sister was born three minutes prior to his birth, and he was always proud to be the younger brother.
When he was six, he and his immediate family moved to Arkansas. He had a wonderful childhood growing up in Little Rock. His family loved to go to the local zoo or to attend many local baseball games that nurtured his love of sports. He was an avid Arkansas Razorbacks fan and years later convinced his wife to call the hogs, whoo pig sooie! More than sports, he loved to spend time traveling with his family on summer vacations. He spent many wonderful summers visiting his grandparents in Sheldon, South Carolina where they owned a general store. He enjoyed playing in and around the store with his twin sister enjoying cokes and honeybuns for snacks.
Paul and his twin sister Paula had a very special and strong connection. They had their own “twin-language,” communicating with each other, before they could even talk. They loved growing up together, securing the special bond between them. Even though they were twins, their parents encouraged their independence and fostered their own interests. As they got older, they remained close to each other. In spite of the miles between them, they would text or talk daily, no matter the time of day or night. They shared videos, memes, or songs found on the internet.
As Paul and Paula grew older, he discovered another of his greatest passions and that was 80s music. Paul was always in his bedroom listening to his records that he bought with his allowance at the local music stores. As a young adult, he got a job at Discount Records in Little Rock, where he spent most of his paycheck on albums. Paul’s two favorite bands were the Pet Shop Boys and Duran Duran. And because of their shared love of Duran Duran, he met the love of his life Marcia Ann Shepherd, in July 1995.
The conversation between Paul and Marcia began with Duran Duran, but quickly shifted to their personal lives. The connection was instant and deeply rooted. They quickly learned they had lots in common (like wearing glasses since they were 4 years old) and knew they had each met a friend for life. They were each other’s first love, girlfriend/boyfriend, everything. Paul traveled to Massachusetts for the first time at the end of August 1995. They spent six wonderful days together before he headed home to Arkansas. On Thanksgiving Day, 1995, Paul asked Marcia’s father for permission to marry her. He woke her up and proposed.
On December 26, 1995, Marcia traveled to Arkansas for the first time. After meeting Paul’s parents and sister, he drove her around Little Rock. They stopped at the Riverfront Belvedere alongside the Arkansas River. He wrapped a pink blanket around her (it was roughly 25 degrees F) and got down on one knee. He took out the jewel box for Duran Duran’s The Wedding Album and asked her to open it carefully. He had removed the CD and placed her ring around the spokes. Then he took the ring, proposed in person, and put the ring on her finger.
Paul and Marcia got married on August 10, 1996. The ceremony and following reception were small, but perfect in every way. There was plenty of good food, good music, and they were surrounded by the love of their friends and family. After the wedding Marcia initially moved to Arkansas, where they lived for the first two years of their marriage. In November 1998, they moved to Massachusetts.
Paul loved life in Massachusetts. He enjoyed sightseeing in Boston, visiting museums, and attending concerts. Continuing his love of travel, he enjoyed weekend road trips with Marcia to see things like covered bridges, lighthouses, the oldest post office in America (in Hinsdale, NH), or the eastern most point on the continental USA (West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Lubec, ME).
Paul grew up a fan of the Atlanta Braves. Having no previous team loyalty of her own, in 1999, Marcia surprised Paul with tickets to see the Braves versus the Red Sox at Fenway Park, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Braves won that game. Leaving the ballpark, Paul was elated because his team won. Surrounded by the saddened Fenway Faithful, Marcia told Paul she was a Red Sox fan. He embraced the change as well. He loved listening to the Red Sox on the radio, watching them on TV, or occasionally catching a game at Fenway.
He loved technology and gadgets. Early in their relationship, he and Marcia would send each other messages via beepers, then to cell phones, Palm Pilots, Blackberry’s, and eventually their iPhones. He embraced these technologies to reach out to friends and to share information. He also used these devices to enhance his love of news and information. He was always texting and sharing bits of news or funny images and stories. He enjoyed reaching out to friends around the world and sharing information about Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran, or whatever bit of information he deemed worth sharing.
Paul loved his friends and family. He will be deeply missed.
There will be a graveside service on September 12, 2024 (on his father’s birthday) at 1pm, in Lowell Cemetery, 77 Knapp Ave, Lowell, MA 01852.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a financial donation to assist Marcia with Paul’s medical bills and living expenses by donating at the Go Fund Me site his sister set up. https://gofund.me/83f3f67c
Arrangements are under the care of Hays Funeral Home, 56 Main Street, Northborough, MA 01532.
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