Doris M. Shepard passed away on February 28,2020, after a battle with various health issues. She was a long-time resident of Manatee and Hillsborough counties.

Beloved by all who knew her she was born in Hawaii on the island of Moloka'i. While growing up here she made friendships that lasted her entire lifetime. She was raised on this island with her grandmother who was a farmer raising Chinese squash, other seasonal vegetables, and hogs. When she could sneak away from her grandmother and the farm Doris had full range of the island. Her off days were filled with exploring the natural wonders that surrounded her. She told tales of climbing lush mountains and swimming in the blue Pacific Ocean as well as going to town on the bus to shop and go to the movies. She always marveled that she could make money any time she wanted to by picking native fruit or catching fish and selling her bounty in town. Growing up on a farm she had a work ethic that was unparalleled. She carried this trait with her throughout her life which is exemplified by the fact that she never was unemployed until her retirement in 1996. She retired from Tropicana after 20 years of service and she would often regale in her misadventures and friendships that occurred there.

Doris met Carl, the love of her life, while working as a waitress in Honolulu. They formed a formidable couple with Doris being a matriarch who always strived to meet her dream of "…having our own home and a bedroom for each of the children." She succeeded beyond her expectations. She would always retell the story of how she managed to feed a family of 5 on $15.00 per week, how she talked an appliance salesman to come pick her and her three children up so she could shop for appliances, and how she would always befriend the neighborhood butcher to get the best deals. She bought her first washer, dryer and freezer and paid for it with the money she saved from not going to the laundromat. She was the wind in the sails for our family. She went out and contracted with a homeowner for a land contract sale on the first house we lived in. After building up equity in that house she parlayed that into a down payment for her dream home in Niles, Michigan; finally, a bedroom for each of her children!

For her entire life Doris was an avid sportsperson. She loved softball, volleyball, tennis and basketball. Her abilities in sports were epic. In softball her opponents called her "Hollywood" where she was known to hit at lease one home run per game. In volleyball she once served 12 aces in a row during a championship game in Sarasota. She would say of that achievement that she felt embarrassed and purposely muffed the serve to let her teammates finish the game. She loved fishing and catching crabs near the Coquina Beach boat ramp. Carl and Doris would go out on the grass flats with lanterns, hand nets and an igloo cooler they would pull behind them. Once mom saw a crab in the grass flats that crab was as good as in the pot. Her one crowning achievement while crabbing was catching a giant lobster; she talked about that lobster for the rest of her life.

Another forte of Doris was great cooking. Her spaghetti was something special. Everything she cooked had her pouring her heart into the recipe. And when she cooked, she cooked to feed an army. Her pots were the biggest around and she would fill them up with goodness. Holidays were her specialty. She would bake holiday goodies by the gross. She would be up till 3 or 4 am preparing the turkey filling her home with the delicious smell of holiday fare.

Doris was always a protector of those less fortunate, would always have empathy for her fellow persons and would go to extreme lengths to ensure that they received help. It wasn't unusual for her to pull into a fast food restaurant and buy a meal for a homeless person begging on the street. She once bought a coat for a homeless veteran who she ran across 10 years later only to offer to buy him another coat.

Doris had a special place in her heart for animals. All kinds; from raccoons and opossum, to dogs and especially cats. Ten years ago, a pregnant cat was brought to mom, she opened her heart up to this cat. That cat, along with her four kittens all reside at the Shepard house. Doris intended to give these cats away but never made the effort; just made room in her house for the extra residents.

Before she was well known in the Manatee RV Park, she would oft times do gardening work in the evening. She was once approached by a resident and was told that she was doing a great job. The resident went on to ask mom if they paid her a good wage for doing the gardening work. She replied that the wages weren't bad never letting on to the fact that she owned the park. She remained humble throughout her life.

Doris is survived by her children Crispen Arakaki, Allen Shepard, Carla Shepard and was preceded in death by her husband Carl L. Shepard and her daughter Crystal S. McCormick. Her grandchildren include Allyn Cay Bennefield (and her children Ashley Nicollette Miller and Nazareth Bennefield), Shannon Harris (and her children Elora, Alexander, Abraham and Gabriel), Kerri Alice Pilcher, Zachary Ullisch (and his son Jace), Kaydie McCormick and Kelsey McCormick.

Doris once said, "If you can't help someone who is in need there's not much sense in you being here." I'm sure she would be pleased to know that she will be remembered as someone who never met a stranger and would always help a person in need. Aloha nui loa, God bless and God speed.