LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Wednesday, April 3, 2019, Gary Jay Shepherd, loving father of six and passionate grandfather of 10, passed away in his bed at 70 years old.

Gary, a disabled Vietnam veteran, was born on May 11, 1948 in Beloit, Wisconsin, to Jay Dee Shepherd of Kansas and Beverly Jean Clippert of Wisconsin.

He was drafted into the United States Army on Dec 5, 1968, where he served in the 3rd Battalion head of heavy artillery 4th Infantry in Vietnam until Jan. 20, 1970, when he was awarded an honorable discharge certificate, a National Defense Medal and a Vietnam Service Medal.

After service, he married his second wife and worked as a union carpenter local 25 with a door hanging business while living in Los Angeles and with help from his dad sometime after 1980 became a licensed contractor. He and wife Eileen moved to Northern California and together they raised six children before divorcing 23 years later in 1995.

Gary was an inventor, a builder and an amazing storyteller. With his powerful imagination and mastermind way of thinking he could create marvelous mechanical contraptions for his own and others amusement. He loved sharing his gift of building with everyone, passing along his trade to not only his children but in-laws, nephews and many others.

He strived to be a father figure to those he felt lacked one. In his younger years he was the neighborhood dad that every kid wished was their own. He was fun-loving and always had the funnest toys and coolest home built machines.

After retirement, most days he could be found in his garage where his gifts of fantasy could run wild. He loved tinkering with many things. He welded and built water wheels, whirly-gigs, electric bikes, scooters and carts with great joy.

Gary had an unusual way of seeing the world and would sometimes unabashedly flaunt his eccentricities. His family and close friends often held their breath when he spoke in mixed company and raise their eyebrows after he had spoken. He was known for his adventurous spirit, his inappropriate jokes and his highly animated story telling.

He threw himself into every endeavor wholeheartedly with great enthusiasm but never was too busy to help a friend or family member in need. He had an outrageous, boisterous personality and infectious laugh that made all our lives more colorful. He never complained, never gave up and never stopped loving.

He found laughter in almost every situation even if it was dangerous, sad or downright scary at the time. He believed there was always a silver lining and God would bless him with fortitude and never put something in front of him that he couldn’t handle.

He taught us to always know where our hands and feet are at all times, to work safe, never give up and making mistakes is part of life but strive to never make the same one twice.

He was a strong capable man with enormous hands. When he hugged you, told a story or got angry at you it was with great passion and you knew (maybe not in that moment) how much he loved you.

With his giant hands he could perform even the most minute tasks, making him the best splinter remover that has ever lived. He wasn’t perfect; he wasn’t always tactful but he was a great man with great love for his family.

Gary was preceded in death by his father, Jay; his mother, Beverly; his first wife, Patricia; and two grandchildren, Kressa and Kai.

He is survived by his ex-wife and friend Eileen; his six children, Jason, Michael, Jonathan, Christine, Lisa and Jacqueline; his six siblings, Pam, Marcia, Donald, Dawn, Shelli and Jedidiah; eight grandchildren, Elias, Shadin, Bailey, Logan, Coben, Koen, Lucas and Kellen; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 31, at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery 5810 Midway Road in Dixon at 12:30 p.m.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .