Sue Sheppard

Sue Quarles Sheppard, 84, of Commerce, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Farmersville, Texas. She was born on December 31, 1937, in Clarksville, Texas, the daughter of Lee Quarles and Clara Buchanan Quarles. The family will receive friends at a visitation to take place on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at Cross Trails Cowboy Church in Fairlie. A funeral will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the church. Interment will take place at Sonora Cemetery in Fairlie, Texas.

Sue grew up in Clarksville, Texas, attending Clarksville schools. On June 28, 1953, she married her childhood sweetheart, Ken Sheppard, who was also from Clarksville. They enjoyed fifty-nine years of happy marriage. Their union was blessed with three lovely daughters, Deborah Sue, Kathi Lu, and Marla Jeanne. The family moved to Commerce in 1959, where Ken began his college career preparing to be a professor at East Texas State College. She began her career in education by earning her GED through East Texas State College. She continued her education while she raised her girls, while simultaneously earning her Bachelor of Science degree and teaching certificate. She began teaching while earning her Masters in administrative education. For most of her career, she was a teacher and principal in Commerce ISD. Following her retirement from teaching, she worked for ETSU as a supervisor of student teachers. Sue was a member of First Baptist Church of Commerce for many years. She then joined Cross Trails Cowboy Church. She was a founding member of the Ladies Round Pen at the church.

Sue is survived by her daughters, Debbie Sheppard Wiley, Kathi Sheppard and Maria Jeanne Elliott and her husband, Woody; grandchildren, Josh Gossett, Justin Gossett, Ethan Elliott, and Leslee Elliott; great grandchildren, Jackson Gossett, Kayla Gossett, Jenna Gossett, Chase Gossett, Emma Gossett, and Cade Elliott; her brother, Ross Quarles and his wife, Margaret.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Sheppard; her parents, Lee and Clara Quarles; her adoptive parents, Hazel and Bal Stegall; and her son-in-law, Gary Wiley.

Serving as pallbearers for Sue are Woody Elliot, Josh Gossett, Justin Gossett, Ethan Elliott, Jackson Gossett, and Chase Gossett.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation in Sue’s memory be made to the Commerce ISD Educational Enrichment Foundation in care of Ludonna Smithers, 3315 Washington Street, Commerce, Texas 75428.

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