Ellen W. (Willis) Sheppard, 95, of Summer, Ipswich, died Saturday, July 20, 2013 in her home following her long illness. She was the wife of the late Lionel H. Sheppard who died in 1999.

Born in Croydon, England October 3, 1917,  only child of the late John and Ellen May (Brown) Willis, as an infant with  her parents   immigrated settling in Ipswich where she was raised and attended public school. She was a graduate of  Essex Agricultural and Technical School and went on to study at Boston University. Married in 1940 the Sheppards made their home on Labor-in-Vain Rd., Ipswich before making their home on Summer Street in 1970.  In addition to raising her family she was employed in the  food service dept. at the former Cable Hospital of Ipswich, food service dept. for the Ipswich  public school system and for  fourteen years  as the food service director for the Hamilton- Wenham School system retiring in 1973. Mrs.  Sheppard was a Past  Grand Noble of Rebekh Lodge formerly of Ipswich, served as a leader with the Ipswich Girl Scouts, was the chairperson for the Essex County Mass. Food Service Assoc., for many years she served as the secretary for the Essex. Ag. & Tech, School Alumni Society and  was a longtime member of the Ascension Memorial Church in Ipswich.

In addition to family, her employment and the volunteered positions she  enjoyed home flower gardening and with her late husband square  dancing and traveling the States and  in England.

Mrs. Sheppard  is survived by a son, Lionel J. Sheppard and his wife Claire of Ipswich; a daughter, Linda Sheppard and her husband Denis Sevigney of Seabrook; four grandchildren, Cindy Sheppard of Richmond, VA, Christine Sheppard of Ipswich, Richard Trimmer of E. Kingston, NH, Lionel Trimmer of Amesbury and six great grandchildren. She was the grandmother of the late Paula Sue Wing formerly of Exeter, NH.

Her funeral service will be held 11 AM,  Tuesday, July 30  in the Ascension Memorial Church, 31 County Street, Ipswich, followed by interment in the Highland Cemetery, Ipswich. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in her name may be made to Hospice of the North Shore Greater Boston, 75 Sylvan St., Suit B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 and or the Ipswich Humane Group, P.O. Box, 873, Ipswich, MA 01938.