Cornelius "Neil" Shephard

Cornelius “Neil” Shephard died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Roy on the morning of June 12, 2025.

Neil was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on the 7th of July 1934 to parents who were first-generation American immigrants that arrived to Ellis Island from Holland and Ireland.

As F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, “Show me a hero, and I’ll write you a tragedy.” Neil’s childhood was filled with hardships and adversity, growing up in New York during a very difficult period in American history, and separating from both of his parents at a very young age. Neil was always very proud to say that he did not allow himself to be overtaken by alcoholism, as he had watched it cause irreparable damage to both of his parents and altered the course of his childhood in most deleterious ways.

Despite the circumstances his early life laid before him, Neil joined the United States Air Force and later found himself in Ogden, Utah where he met Evelyn Wheelwright. The two of them would later marry and raise three children together in Roy. Evelyn was an active member of the LDS Church, and although Neil had always had reservations about organized religion, he spent many years after her death serving the Church in her honor.

After his military service, Neil began a career with the Defense Depot in Ogden and worked there until retirement. His true passion, however, was literature. Neil had studied English and spent some time working as an English professor, although he found it to be disheartening that so few of his students shared his vehemence for the art of literature. He spent many days of his retirement filling various journals and notebooks with his written manuscripts, essays, stories and more; most often with his signature blue-ink fountain pen.

Neil loved animals and took great pride in training many dogs throughout his life, most notably his beloved Labrador retriever, Nimrod, who has been patiently awaiting this reunion for many years. Neil also had a fondness for birds, and he fashioned the deck attached to his house into an elaborate bird sanctuary, which entertained and delighted both him and the neighborhood cats for over a decade. Neil enjoyed long walks in the park and around the catch basin located at the end of his street. He was proud of his enduring good health and strength and would boast about the backpack full of bricks he would carry upon his back during his walks, until a fall which left him humbled and very bruised put an end to the use of bricks!

Being a resident of Roy for as long as he was, Neil had many people in the community that came to know his friendly face and soft voice, particularly at Arctic Circle where he spent a small fortune over many years buying chocolate milkshakes and chocolate-vanilla-twist ice cream cones.

Neil was very proud to be a grandfather, and he leaves behind 6 grandchildren that will miss him very much. He made every effort to make his grandkids smile, whether it was through singing silly songs, treating them to bookstore trips and lunch dates, or simply showing up to family events and holidays despite his desire to stay home in his later years.

Neil is preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn; dear sister-in-law, Kay George; daughter-in-law Laurie, and many friends and acquaintances that he made over the course of his extraordinary life. He leaves behind his children, John Shephard, Susan (Andrew) Goodwin, and Steve Shephard; his grandkids, and many great-grandchildren (he couldn’t remember them all, so we won’t list them here…..just know he loved each one!)

In lieu of flowers, please consider having an ice cream cone in his honor.

Private family services will held by Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary, 3333 W. 5600 S.