Shirley "Kay" Sheppard

Shirley Katherine Bell was born in Seguin, Texas to William A. Bell and Mabeth Smith Bell. The family resided in Texas for a short time and relocated to the Pensacola, Florida area where Kay spent most of her early years. Kay was always attracted to horses and loved being around them. Although her mother wanted her to pursue her abilities as an artist, Kay’s passion was raising, training, and riding horses. Kay started riding professionally in the 1960s and never stopped. Her barrel racing career had lasted over 5 decades and her professional rodeo career for 3 decades. In the early 70s Kay met and married Charles Hankins and started pursuing rodeo career with her then husband residing in the Poplarville, Mississippi area until his death in 1999. Kay achieved many accomplishments in the rodeo arena as hazing for the steer wrestlers, goat tying, ribbon roping and barrel racing, Kay had actively participated in the WPRA, PRCA, NBHA, TBRA, Tri-state Rodeo Association, and other associations achieving success in about all she did. Kay loved working with the youth and taught many to be top riders and good people. Many of her students still participate today or their children have carried on the skills. In 2003, Kay moved to Tyler, TX and met Larry Sheppard and they were wed in 2004. For the last 22 years they have thanked the Lord for their time together raising and riding horses. Kay had many friends in the rodeo and horse industry, and they lost a good friend. Kay has been preceded in death by her parents and former husband Charles Hankins. Kay is survived by her husband Larry Sheppard of Overton, Texas, a brother, Ralph Bell of Tyler, Texas, a nephew Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth W. Bell USAF, Arlington, VA and numerous other family members knowing her as Momma Kay or Grandma Kay Kay has loved the Lord with all of her heart and the Sheppard family would like to thank AVIR Nursing Home in Overton, Texas and Kindful Hospice of Longview, Texas for their kind, compassionate and exemplary care provided to Kay through this life ending event.