Wayne L. Shepherd February 1, 1938 - August 8, 2026

Our amazing husband, dad, grandpa, and friend, Wayne Shepherd, finally crossed into the Heavens on August 8, 2026, following a heroic 5 year battle with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. We know his first order of business, after greeting his family, has likely been searching for Heaven’s best fishing holes – where the fish always bite, the line never tangles, the big ones never get away (and the size matches the stories), and it’s always ‘fish o’clock’! Although Wayne will be missed terribly by his sweet wife, Rae, and his kids and grandkids, we take comfort in the knowledge that he is no longer burdened with the effects of this horrible disease, and can finally rest from the confusion, angst, and frustrating memory loss he has been battling for so long.

Wayne was born on February 1, 1938, to Lloyd L. and Velma Iris Biggs Shepherd, the oldest of three sons. He was raised in the northeast corner of Spanish Fork and spent his childhood exploring the ‘untamed wilderness’ just a few blocks from their home – an area that is now a shopping center filled with countless stores and restaurants, as well as a major state highway. Wayne, along with his brothers and friends, spent many summer days hunting squirrels and birds with their BB guns, and target shooting tin cans.

As Wayne entered his teen years, he found he had inherited his dad’s talents on the pitcher’s mound, and baseball became a major part of his life. He loved sharing memories of the countless summer days he and his friends spent playing pickup games at the school grounds, Sandlot-style, when a kind man from town would drop off a gunny sack filled with baseball equipment in the morning and then pick it up later in the afternoon. Wayne pitched for three years on the Spanish Fork High School baseball team, graduating in 1956, and then went on to pitch for an advanced team with players selected from throughout Utah Valley. A highlight from that time was when he pitched an all-star game at Derk’s Field in Salt Lake City. He was also a talented saxophone player, playing in the high school band, as well as The Shepherd Orchestra – a band consisting of family members that played at dance halls and parties throughout Utah County and beyond.

Wayne met his lovely, devoted wife of nearly 69 years, Rae Anderson, while ‘rodding main’ in Spanish Fork, tossed his class ring at her and said “I’ll pick it up tomorrow after mutual”, and they were married on November 26, 1957, in the Manti Temple. They were blessed with three children, Jeffrey Wayne, Lori, and Brenda. Wayne and Rae enjoyed the outdoors and spent time camping, fishing, and hunting, passing on that love to their kids and later their grandkids. They discovered snowmobiling when their three kids were young, and that activity became their new favorite hobby – which is also where, when, and how their love of Fairview Canyon began. They purchased their Fairview property in 1978, and upon retirement they moved there from the Spanish Fork/Salem area full-time in 2000.

In the mid-70’s Wayne founded and became president of the Skyline SnoRider Snowmobile Club, and was instrumental in the construction and enlargement of several parking lots and placement of restrooms along the highway and Skyline Drive in Fairview Canyon. He also led efforts to relocate a former guard station to become a warming hut on north Skyline Drive, all of which benefit outdoor enthusiasts in Fairview Canyon year-round. Wayne was a member of the Utah Army National Guard, serving two tours of duty for a total of 8 years. He enlisted immediately following high school graduation and was recognized as an expert marksman within the artillery division. Wayne has held numerous, diverse jobs over the years: Geneva Steel for 30+ years while simultaneously doing custom hay work on the old John Deere tractor throughout the valley, which was one of his favorite passions. He also worked as an Auto Shop aide at SFHS, Meals-On-Wheels delivery driver, maintenance man at an assisted living home, HeadStart bus driver, Sanpete County roadside maintenance, and maintaining the cemetery, ballpark, and museum for Fairview City.

Wayne was the ultimate ‘fix-it’ man and could repair anything with baling wire or a roll of duct tape. He was the master of inventions, creating a myriad of items that suited whatever project he had going. “It can’t be done” was not in his vocabulary, if whatever he needed wasn’t available, he would figure out a way it COULD be done, and then he would do it. His love of Fairview Canyon led to a few years of employment as a campground camp host, a job he loved. He enjoyed being in the canyon so much that during the winters, whether or not he was on the forest service payroll, he would drive up a few times a week and shovel the snow away from the restrooms and make sure they were clean.

Wayne was the perfect husband to Rae, the first-rate dad to his three kids, and the absolutely top-notch grandpa to his grandkids! He taught them all to love and respect the great outdoors, teaching them so much about nature without them even knowing they were learning. He had the grandkids snowmobiling before they could walk, fishing by the time they could talk, and building campfires by the time they could say their ABCs. Wayne had a teasing streak in him that not many people got to see, but he and the grandkids had a lot of fun teasing and joking with each other. We will all miss these interactions with Dad/Grandpa Wayne, and we’re sure he’s getting in some good chuckles with those he is now reunited with. Probably some pretty good fish stories being told about now!

Wayne is survived by his loving wife, Rae, who has cared for him relentlessly during his illness, his children: Jeffrey Wayne and wife Jane Shepherd & kids Rick and wife Angela Rudolph, Matthew and wife Samantha Rudolph, and Katie Rudolph and fiance Henry Boschen, and 15 grandkids; Lori and husband Brad Freytag & kids Cody Wayne, Nick, Cameron, Bradley ‘Jake’, Kaci Aurette and husband Tyler Schaumann & Lex; and Brenda Shepherd, daughter Shelby, and granddaughter Autumn Rayne. Also survived by his brother Steven and wife Karen Shepherd. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd L and Velma Iris Biggs Shepherd, and his brother Lamar Shepherd.

Services celebrating Wayne’s extraordinary life will be held at Walker Funeral Home in Spanish Fork (187 South Main Street) on Saturday, August 22 at 12:00 noon (MST), with viewing prior from 10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Additional viewing hours on Friday, August 21 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Burial in the Fairview City Cemetery.

**Wayne was never a suit-and-tie fan and would want his visitors to be comfortable, so please dress according to your comfort level. Casual, informal attire is perfectly fine!**