Obituary of Eileen F. Shepherd

Eileen Ford Shepherd of New Hartford passed away with the loving support of her family on December 30, 2025. Born on August 24,1926, Eileen was the daughter of Charles and Kathryn Creedon Ford and grew up on the family farm on Paris Hill, the fourth of seven children.

Eileen graduated from Waterville High School and then Utica School of Commerce. She was a proud “career girl” long before it was fashionable. She lived independently, working at The Savings Bank of Utica while also holding elected office and traveling with the NYS Banking Association.

While attending a basketball game with a friend, she met John (Jack) Shepherd. They were married in 1949. When she became pregnant, she had to leave her job—as was the rule of the day.

Eileen and Jack raised 12 children in Clark Mills. Eileen was well known for her fabulous weekly baking. Their home was the center of activity for the kids and their friends. Despite the hubbub of such a large brood, she rarely got flustered. (She attributed that to her hearing loss!)

Through sheer necessity, Eileen quickly learned how to efficiently run a large household: weekly runs to her brother’s farm for milk, dozens of eggs picked up after Sunday mass, and every year a cow processed and stocked in the freezer. She bought potatoes and flour in huge sacks and knew how to quadruple a recipe.

Eileen made sure that all her children took part in household chores. She would clang the dinner bell from the front porch promptly at 6:00, letting her kids know it was time to come in from playing, supper was ready. They eagerly came running home. Eileen was a wonderful mother, loving and patient, yet firm and no-nonsense. It was she who taught each of her 12 children how to drive.

Many days and nights were spent with extended family, the kids running around with cousins while the parents played cards with the aunts and uncles. Also, each year, the

Shepherds and Moriartys (Eileen’s sister Ann was her best friend) would trek up to the Adirondacks for a week at a camp or a canoe trip. It was one huge family, and everyone had a ball!

In addition to her hectic home life, Eileen also managed to give back to the community. She was active in the PTA, Church of the Annunciation Altar & Rosary Society, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 26, The National Alliance of the Mentally Ill (NAMI), and Kirkland Senior Citizens. When her youngest children went off to school, Eileen worked part-time at the Clark Mills and Westmoreland Post Offices, which she found very fulfilling.

In retirement, she and Jack travelled extensively and maintained a very active social and community life.

A Ford through and through, Eileen was stubborn, had a sly sense of humor and loved to dance. She was also a fierce competitor at any game she played. She especially loved cards and played in regular pitch, pinochle, and bridge groups at Sunset Wood, where she lived (and thoroughly enjoyed) for the past 10 years.

Last year Eileen lost Jack, her loving partner of nearly 75 years. She was also predeceased by an infant son as well as sons, James and Charles (Tom) and her siblings. Eileen is survived by children Bill (Karen Madsen), John (Becky), Rebecca (Dick Bohlander), Bob (Carla), Larry (Karen Knauth), Theresa, Eileen “Missy” Durham (Mark), Patrick (Linda, deceased), Louis, and Lynn (Connie); daughter-in-law Monessa (Tom’s widow); 20 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Eileen was a dearly beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend. In her last months, she and her family were so grateful for the care and support of her Sunset Wood friends and staff (especially Jennifer and Randy), hospice staff, and Live Long at Home caregivers Deb and Sylvia.

Per her wishes, Eileen’s body is being donated to Upstate Medical Center. Calling hours will be held at Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service in Clinton on Friday, January 9, from 4 to 8 pm. A Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, January 10, at 12 pm at the Church of the Annunciation, 7616 E. South Street, Clark Mills . In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of New Hartford, the Clark Mills Fire Department, Clark Mills American Legion Post 26, or the Church of the Annunciation.