Florence Ann (Brownell) Sheppard

The World lost an amazing soul, Monday, August 02, 2021, when Florence Ann (Brownell) Sheppard went to dance in the Heavens with her late husband, Theo. As she left her earthy body her loving son, Jerry Sheppard and grandson, Larry Agle were by her side.  Florence was born Monday, December 21,1925 in Marengo, Michigan to Ruth Kathryn (Stedman) Brownell and George Arthur Brownell. She was the third child born to the couple, joining her two sisters, Samantha Jane and Margaret Ruth and half siblings, Lorraine, Kenneth, Edgar, Dorthy, and Clifford. In 1927 she would take on the title “Big Sister” to her little brother, George Arthur, Jr.

Florence grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan. She spent her childhood and youth there making grand memories that in her later years she would fondly reflect on. She graduated from Battle Creek Central High School. For a little pocket change she worked at the Bijou theatre in Battle Creek. As a youth, one of her favorite pastimes was spinning around the roller-rink, which would pay off when she met the love of her life and soul mate, Theo Sheppard. Theo was serving in the military, stationed at Fort Custer, but one look at Florence and he knew where his future was headed. It would be a whirlwind romance that quickly led to a marriage proposal (just a few weeks into meeting her). When Theo asked Florence for her hand in marriage he told her if she said no he was leaving (back to base).

Florence and Theo married at The First Baptist Church, in Battle Creek, Michigan, on Friday, September 01, 1944. She wore an aqua knit dress with brown accessories and a corsage of white roses. It was a union that dreams are made of and fairytales rival. That spark never died and the two forever carried a twinkle in their eye for one another. Florence would live at home with her mother and father while she waited out the time for Theo to finish out his military commitment. They made a home in an upstairs apartment on Cleveland Street, in Battle Creek, Michigan. They were blessed with two children while living in Battle Creek, Kathryn Ann and Lawrence Thomas. In 1947 they moved to Flint, Michigan staying a short time with Theo’s parents until they became the proud owners of a piece of property on Gracelawn Avenue in Flint, Michigan. Theo would build a small tar-paper shack to live in until they could build better accommodations. The couple were again blessed with the addition of three children Sharon Lee, Peggy Sue, and Jerry Michael. It was there on Gracelawn that the family would grow and spend many years making beautiful memories. Theo built a walkout basement for the family to live in and slowly saved his pennies to build the main floor of the house. The house had as much charm and charisma as the young couple and many good days were spent in that house on Gracelawn. The yard was filled with life, from children to grandchildren, from pets to wildlife, from gardens to fruit trees. There were always things happening on that homestead.

Florence took a job at Federals Department Store in the early sixties until she was hired at Citizens Bank in the School Savings Department where she would eventually retire from. She also worked on the voting board. When she wasn’t working she could be found lovingly raising her five children, sewing, crocheting, baking, gardening, swimming, doing ceramics, spending time outdoors, and enjoying wildlife. Florence always had a bird feeder and birdbath in her yard. She loved animals and had many pets throughout her life, including dogs Taffy, Sweetie Pie, Candy, Henry, Andy, Dutches, and Rosie; cats Midnight, Francia, Tiger I, and Tiger II.. Florence and Theo loved to travel. They ventured all over the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. They took trips to Canada and Acapulco, Mexico. 

As the years passed Florence and Theo would have the blessings of grandchildren, nine to be exact; Thomas Michael Ulanski, Victoria Agle, Theo Edward Ulanski, Kathryn Florence Ulanski (Kitty), Lawrence Edward Agle (Larry), Leroy NMN Agle II, Samantha Helen Ulanski, James Michael Edson, Bethany Lynn Edson (Beth). Florence took pride in her grandchildren, she strived to be the BEST grandma, and she excelled at it! She loved ALL her grandchildren, but she held a close and special bond with Vicky, over the years they developed a friendship that would remain until her very last breath was taken. Florence enjoyed the addition of eighteen great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, seeing them brought pure joy to her heart. 

Florence and Theo shared many wonderful, fun-filled, adventurous years together until Theo’s untimely passing on Tuesday, April 8, 1986. After 42 years of marriage Florence was faced with a new path. She took it with stride but, the loss of Theo left a huge void in her life and her soul forever ached to be with him. She was often heard talking to him and as the years went by she longed to go home to him. Florence loved spending time at her daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Tom’s second home in Manton, Michigan. She and son, Jerry, moved to Manton, where she enjoyed her quiet little place in the country and all the wildlife it brought to her backdoor. With Kathy and Tom’s backyard connecting to her backyard she could enjoy being near family. She would attend local functions, go to Friday night fish fries, and join the events at the local senior center. It was a good place to live out her Golden Years. She was a spirited woman with an infectious laugh. She was loved by all her nurses and caregivers at Samaritas Senior Living, in Cadillac, Michigan. Without Florence’s joyful laugh and exuberant demeanor the halls will seem empty and quiet at Samaritas Senior Living. 

Looking through the many albums in Florence’s home tells a story of an extraordinary life, lived by a simple and humble woman who not only loved her family and friends, but also the life she was given. She kept every letter and card written to her, she had albums full of memories from graduation, wedding, and birth announcements to organized photos of family and friends. Florence had a way of making everyone feel special, from her children and grandchildren to her friends and coworkers. There are many fond and loving memories of her. 

Words from her children include;  Sharon, “She was a great mother and friend. She always had time to listen when I was growing up. I'll miss her.” 

Jerry, “I love you, Ma! You’re the BEST mom ever!” 

Grandchildren share Loving memories her; 

Vicky Trotter, “The best grandma a kid could want!! It was great fun baking and planting flowers. Riding in convertible wind blowing through her hair while drinking cherry juice and telling me to go faster.” Larry Agle, “Firm, but fair. Willing to help you with anything as long as you were trying to help yourself. Best gardens ever, loved her orchids. She would bring them all in the house and soak them in the sink with some sort of fertilizer that turned the water blue. Square chocolate chip cookies. Always had cookies in the cookie jar and candy in the candy jars.”

Leroy Agle, “Fondest? Where to start? Could it be the sugar cookies, raspberry jam or the smell of breakfast filling the house in the morning? Or the education she provided of the many flowers she tended through the summer and fall! Or the life lessons of waste not want not. She was an extraordinary woman and is deeply missed.”  Samantha Hernandez, “Spending the night when Grandpa was away and getting to sleep in their craftmatic vibrating adjustable bed with her. Finding out her favorite color was brown. Puzzles, scrabble, crafts, and more when at her house. The comforting smell of her and her house. Her dedication to making it to as many recitals, graduations, school concerts and functions of ALL her grandchildren. Handmade clothes and LifeSavers book packs for Christmas. That year she made all the girls' matching vests in different colors. Her sharing her ice cream with her dogs… yep right off the same cone! A&W trips, Cedar Point, and camping. Her driving the go-cart straight into the bushes and laughing the entire way! Sugar raisin cookies and burning the bottoms of the first batch for Grandpa. Coming to my first home when I lived near her. The unwavering dedication she had to her family.”

Beth Edson, “She was an amazing and supportive Grandmother. Fondest memory was her baking… always looking inside the cookie jar to see whether there was sugar or date cookies. I loved her appreciation for animals - dogs, cats and birds.”

Great-Grandchildren reflections;

Anna Bauman, “How happy she always was when I would bring Eleanor to visit. She always lit right up.”

Tyler Burtrum, “My most prominent memories of her were always going over to her house to get cookies and play with Rosie.”

Melonie-Anne Burtrum, “When I think of Grandma Sheppard I think of warm summer days with a cool breeze coming through the house as I sit on the carpet watching tv reruns of old westerns, sitcoms, and games shows. I remember spending many summers doing just that. I have a fond love of rocks, fig newtons, and sugar raisin cookies all thanks to Grandma Sheppard. I remember I would come in through the back door, into the kitchen, grab a fig Newton, and say hi to her before checking to see if her little rock dish needed more water. I think one of the things I will miss most is her laugh. Thinking of it now makes me smile. When I helped take care of her back in 2018 I got to hear her laugh a lot and I will forever be thankful for the time I had with her.”

Harstan Ulanski, “Going over there to say hi, I think she would be watching jeopardy or something like that.”

Avery Ulanski, “Her and I joking around about getting us a man, a Sugar-Daddy.”

Florence left this earth to join her adoring husband Theo Edgar Sheppard; Mother and Father Ruth and George Brownell; sisters Lorraine, Dorthy, Samantha, and Margaret; brothers Kenneth, Edgar, Clifford, and George; sister-in-laws Gladys Brownell, Hilda Sheppard, Kitty Sheppard, Madeline Brownell, Marie Sheppard, Myrtle; brother-in-laws Dee Markins, James Petty, John Kipp, Nyle, Reo Sheppard, Russell, John, Verne Balcom; son-in-law Thomas Ulanski, Grandson-in-law Richard Strong, Great-Grandson Gabe Agle; Great-Great-Grandson Aiden Ortega, and many extended family and dear friends.

Left to cherish their memories of Florence are children Kathryn Ulanski, Larry Sheppard, Sharon Agle (Leroy I), Peggy Edson (Jim), Jerry Sheppard; grandchildren Tom Ulanski (Sheri), Vicky Trotter (Tim), Theo Ulanski (Teri), Kitty Strong, Larry Agle (Susan), Leroy Agle II (Sherry), Samantha Hernandez, James Edson (Akiko), Beth Edson; Great-grandchildren Ashlee Agle, Erika Strong, Nancy Bauman, Anna Bauman, Corey Lukas Strong (Alicia), Tyler Burtrum (Tabitha), Lorin Wilson, Hannah Ulanski, Michael Shedd (Ellie), Melonie-Anne Burtrum, Amanda Agle, Danielle Agle, Brandi Agle, Harstan Ulanski, Hailey Ulanski, Avery Ulanski, Mason Ulanski, LeChanse Agle; Great-great-grandchildren Joshua Stafford, Carter Leedle, Kaiden Ortega, Eleanor Butler, Thomas White, sister-in-laws , Beverly Petty, Janice Balcom; brother-in-law, Lester Sheppard; and many more extended family and friends.

Florence will be placed with her loving husband Theo at a private graveside inurnment at Flint Memorial Gardens. 

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