Alice Laura Marie (Duhaime) Shepard passed away July 8 at her home while her family was staying with her.

Alice was born Jan. 19, 1920 in Portland to T.J. and Bessie (Wood) Duhaime.

T.J., Bessie, and Alice moved to Harney County in March 1920, where her brothers Ralph and Roy were born. She attended Rye Grass Grade School, which closed in the spring of 1935. She boarded with the Gunkle family to attend her first year of high school. She and her brother, Roy, lived in a cook shack which was parked on the Shepard’s back lot in Burns. She worked for the Wisemans. Alice also assisted several mothers with housework and care of their newborns, worked as a babysitter, waitress, pastry cook, and hotel maid.

Alice married Wallace Frank Shepard in 1938.  He was employed by the Harney County Road Department as a mechanic and truck driver. They had two daughters, Susan and Jo Ellen. The family lived in a small home on the Clara Shepard property for five years, then moved to Rye Grass Lane in 1943 where they remodeled the lone star school house for their home. Alice’s father had purchased and moved the building. Alice’s mother had attended school in this building. Wallace and Alice’s daughters rode the school bus in to Burns.  Alice helped with 4-H, Scouts, PTA, and as a room mother.

Following WWII, Wallace and his brother, Wes, bought a truck and hauled for hire. Wallace then sold his share to Wes and returned to work as a shop foreman for the county road department.

In 1957, they moved to Richland, where Wallace worked as a heavy-duty mechanic on Brownlee and Oxbow dams on the Snake River. Alice was busy as an Avon Lady, attending Grange and the Rebecca Lodge, and assisting with Baker County Extension classes. They made many lasting friendships. In 1961, they returned to Rye Grass Lane when Wallace worked as the Caterpillar service representative.

In the spring of 1963, they formed a partnership with Alice’s brother, Roy, where they operated Rye Grass Ranches for 22 years. Alice was in her “glory” working in the hay fields, riding and working with the cattle, caring for the large yard, and selling Avon. She looked forward to running the swather each year. She also liked riding horses and moving cows.

Due to Wallace’s deteriorating health, the ranch was sold in 1985. They then bought a travel trailer and enjoyed visiting family and touring the West until his death in 1990 after 52 years of marriage.

They were active 7th degree members of Poison Creek Grange. Alice was community service chairman and grange secretary when Poison Creek Grange won their first national award. She is a past Noble Grand and a 45-year member of Sylvia Rebekah Lodge and the recipient of the decoration of chivalry in 1974. Alice was land and crops superintendent at the Harney County Fair for many years. Prior to that, she assisted in the foods department. She remembered when the fair exhibits were displayed under the grandstands.

Alice was a member of the national, state, and Harney County Cattlewomen, Lady Elks, a life member of the Harney County Historical Society, Pioneer Association, and the Harney County Senior Center, where she volunteered.

Alice was an avid gardener with flowers and plants inside and outside.  She enjoyed reading, especially local and western history, cooking, sewing, and collecting unusual wood pieces. She was a history book of knowledge about all of Harney County. She could tell you all about the families of long time residents. She did scrapbooks of marriages, births, and deaths. Her scrapbooks include school activities, Pioneer Day programs, fair queens and her court, and parades.

She is survived by her daughter, JoEllen (Bill) McCurdy of Challis, Idaho; grandchildren, Mark (Jill) McCurdy of Boise, Idaho, Michael (Jana) McCurdy of Boise, Patti (Gerry) Lacy of Meridian, Idaho, Joe (Becky) Reynolds of Boise, Pam (Kim) Edwards of Anchorage, Alaska; great-grandchildren, Jeremy McCurdy of Salt Lake City, Utah, Lauren (Zach) Noble of Boise, Ethan McCurdy of Boise, Megan Lacy of Meridian, Kyle (Kelsie) Lacy of Kuna, Idaho, Kayla (Kyel) Reynolds Shippey of Boise, Tanya Reynolds of Boise, Christie (Chris) Kahklen of Palmer, Alaska, Brandon Edwards of Anchorage, Alaska; and great-great-grandchildren, Olivia Kahklen of Anchorage, Alaska, and Jonas McCurdy of Salt Lake City.

Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace Shepard; brothers, Ralph and Roy Duhaime; daughter Sue (Shepard) Reynolds; and son-in-law, John Reynolds.

Alice said, “Just don’t fence me in.” The wide open spaces of Harney County and the 50 years on Rye Grass Lane were very precious to her. At her request, there will not be a memorial service. Family and friends are welcome to make memorial donations to the charity of their choice in her honor.

LaFollette’s Chapel is in charge of arrangements.  Please visit www.lafolletteschapel.com to sign the online guestbook for the family.