Ida Mae Shepherd affectionately known as “Grandma Ida” was born March 12, 1929, in Portland, Oregon to the union of William Gross and Ida Smith.
Ida loved God. In 1933, at the age of 5 she was baptized at Immaculate Heart Church by Father Daley. She rededicated her life to Christ in 1997, when at the invitation of her stepdaughter, Helen Warren, she came to St. Paul’s Vacation Bible School. She became a member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and was baptized on October 5, 1997, by Rev. James C.E. Faulkner. She was an active member of St. Paul, participating in the mass and gospel choirs, but her passion was the Prison Ministry. She climbed 66 steps 2 times a month at the Oregon State Penitentiary to ministry her poetry to the inmates. The inmates named her ministry “Shepherd’s Corner”. To ensure that the inmates stayed inspired between visits, she sent cards of encouragement to them once a month.
Ida worked for 16 years for Margaret and Robert Avison. She went on to work at the Veterans Hospital where she retired after 24 years of service.
Once retired, Ida devoted the next 30 plus years to the students and staff at Boise Elliott Elementary School. She was known throughout the halls as “Grandma Ida”. She helped the students with their reading and handwriting and worked in the library and office. But most of all, she loved helping her 3 special teachers Ellie Jensen, Eileen Dineen and Kelly Danzer.
Ida loved to watch classic movies, do jigsaw puzzles with her granddaughter, Destinee, and play board games with her niece, Darlene Bailey. Most of all Ida loved her family and prayed for them without ceasing. She truly was as she would always say "blessed and highly favored moving to the next level."
Ida is preceded in death by her husband, Emmett E. Shepherd Jr; son, Michael G. Shepherd; sister, Eadie Roland; and brothers, Virgil, and Oscar Johnson.
Ida leaves to carry on her legacy her sister, Rita Clinton of Bellevue, Washington; daughters, Amy V. Davis, and Ruby F. Shepherd; sons, Emmett E. Shepherd III, and Jeffery Davis, all of Portland, Oregon; honorary daughters, Tamara Lucas and Connie Adams; stepdaughter, Helen Warren; nieces, Darlene Bailey and Lianne Roland, all of Portland, Oregon; 18 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
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