Walter L. "Skip" Sheppard, III

Walter “Skip” Sheppard, III, 68, of Ipswich, MA passed away peacefully on Tuesday  September 14, 2021  with his loving family by his side after a long illness.  Skip was born in Proctor, VT on  March 24, 1953  to the late Walter L. Sheppard, Jr. and Mildred (Strong) Sheppard. 

          Skip graduated from Hopkinton High School in Hopkinton, NH in 1971.  Skip married his high school sweetheart Sarah “Sally” Parker and they raised two children, Kimberly and Matthew.  Skip spent many years working within the paper industry where he forged many lifelong connections and friendships.  Skip also had a talent for painting and building and ran his own painting company, S.O.S. Painting in Pembroke, NH.  He returned again later to the paper business, specifically Lindenmeyr Munroe where he met the love of his life, Mary (Amatucci) Hetnar.  They were married on a beautiful spring day, April 19, 2008.  Skip’s greatest passion was being on the ocean, deep sea fishing and owning his own boat which led him to purchase and open “Three Lantern Marine and Fishing” in Gloucester, MA.  This is where Skip found his true calling.  In 2017, his son Matt joined the team at Three Lantern where he will now take over and continue his father’s legacy.  Skip was very talented and loved to tinker on things.  He enjoyed a good game of scrabble or golf and he was an amazing cook.  One of Skip’s greatest achievements in life was his sobriety which he maintained for over 30 years and until his death.

     Skip is survived by, in addition to his wife Mary of Ipswich, his two children  Kimberly Sheppard Brown of East Montpelier, VT, Matthew Sheppard of Ipswich, his two sisters  Kathleen Schoch and Susan Davis, his stepchildren   Eric, Dan and Colby Hetnar, his four grandchildren,  Macenzie, Averie, Zachary and Emarie Brown as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.

     Calling hours will be held on Sunday  September 26, 2021  from  2:00 to 5:00 P.M.  in the Morris Funeral Home  45 North Main Street, Ipswich.   For those attending the visiting hours facial coverings are required if you are not fully vaccinated.  The family will have a private burial at a later date.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to either:  the American Cancer Society of MA  30 Speen Street  Framingham, MA  01701  or to   the Alzheimer’s Association of MA  480 Pleasant Street  Watertown, MA  02470 .  To send a letter of condolence to Skip’s family please go to:  MorrisFH.com .

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