Cari Lea Shepherd

Cari Lea Shepherd, 54, passed away March 14, 2010, in Pueblo, Colo.

She was born in La Junta, Colo., in 1956 and lived there until moving to California in 1980. She then moved to Alaska and married Jon Shepherd there in 1982, where she lived for more than 20 years raising two sons, Tyler Jon and Maxwell Houston, in the Mat-Su Valley. She then left Alaska and lived in Arizona, California and most recently moved back to Colorado to be with her family there. She liked to travel and visit with friends, but derived most of her joy spending time with her children.

Cari was always available for a friend in need and cared deeply about helping people. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was always ready to share a good laugh.

She is survived by her two sons, Tyler and Max; her parents, Norman and Lila Bailey; sister, Michelle (Paul) Martinez; and brothers, Jeff (Jaime), Rick (Shannon) and Dave (Mollie). She is also survived by her two aunts, Mary Lou (Sonny) Meyer and Carol (Bob) Grasmick; uncle, Vernon Eckert; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

At her request, she was cremated at Montgomery & Steward Crematorium in Pueblo. There will be a grave site memorial service in Rocky Ford, Colo., on Saturday where part of her ashes will be buried with her paternal grandparents, LeMoyne and Wilma Bailey. A second memorial service and celebration of her life will be held on April 10 in Anchor Bay, Calif., one of Cari’s most favorite places. Online condolences can be submitted at www.MontgomerySteward.com.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the wonderful people at Sangre de Cristo Hospice in Colorado and Amedisys Hospice in Alaska. They are truly special people.

Contributions in Cari’s name may be made to Sangre de Cristo Hospice, 1207 Pueblo Blvd. Way, Pueblo, CO 81005 or to Amedisys Hospice, 892 East USA Circle, Wasilla, AK 99654.