Esther Maxine Shepherd
b. 12 October 1921, d. 26 April 2010
- Father: Harry Lee Blair b. 18 October 1902, d. November 1983
- Mother: Vera Marie Walter b. 2 February 1905, d. 7 July 2002
- Esther Maxine Shepherd was interred at Lakeview Cemetery, Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming.
- She was born on 12 October 1921 in Florence, Marion County, Kansas.
- She was known as Maxine Shepherd after her mother's marriage to Earl Shepherd.
- The following appeared on 15 August 1929 in the Deadwood Pioneer-Times: Mr. and Mrs. Earl Shepherd and daughter, Maxine, who have been visiting with mr. Shepherd's mother, Mrs. H. M. Shepherd and his sister, Mrs. Zona Perry, departed on the Burlington yesterday for their home in Alliance, Nebr.
- Milford Earl Shepherd and Vera Marie Walter appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Alliance, Box Butte County, Nebraska, at 616 Missouri Avenue. Other members of the household included Esther Maxine Shepherd.
- The following appeared on 22 June 1939 in The Weekly Pioneer-Times: Miss Maxine Shepherd, who has been visiting for the past two weeks at the home of her grandmother, mrs. H. M. Shepherd, in this city, returned to her home in Alliance, Nebr., Friday morning.
- Vera Marie Walter appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Alliance, Nebraska, at 616 Missouri Avenue. Other members of the household included Esther Maxine Shepherd.
- She married Culver O'Neal Davis on 21 February 1942.
- Esther Maxine Shepherd became a widow at the 16 February 2009 death of her husband Culver O'Neal Davis.
- Esther Maxine Shepherd died on 26 April 2010 at age 88 in Laramie County, Wyoming.
- The following appeared on 29 April 2010 in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle: Maxine Esther Davis, 88, of Cheyenne died April 26 at Davis Hospice Center.
Mrs. Davis was born Oct. 12, 1921, in Florence, Kan., to Harry Lee Blair and Marie Vera (Walter) Blair. Following the divorce of her parents, Mrs. Davis was adopted by Earl Shepherd, her step father, and was raised in Alliance, Neb.
She had lived in Cheyenne since 1990, having previously resided in Cheyenne from 1957 until 1972 when she moved to Oklahoma City, and later Irving, Texas, to be closer to family.
Following her graduation from high school in Alliance in 1939, Mrs. Davis studied nursing at the St. Agnes Academy in Alliance. On Feb. 21, 1942, she married Culver O. Davis, a United States Army Air Corps pilot, whom she met during his basic training at Fort Logan in Denver, thus beginning her lifelong career as an "Air Force wife."
She was proud to follow her husband to duty stations in California, Wisconsin, Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, Kentucky, South Dakota, Washington D.C., and Japan.
When her husband retired from the Air Force in 1957, with a war-time 100 percent medical disability, Mrs. Davis assumed the responsibility of being his caregiver, in addition to being his advocate, confidant, and best friend, roles in which she faithfully served until his death in 2009, all while raising their three children.
In her later years, Mrs. Davis and her husband returned to college attending Laramie County Community College, the University of Wyoming and the University of Central Oklahoma.
Mrs. Davis is survived by her two sons, Christopher O. Davis and Kelly S. (Monica) Davis, both of Cheyenne; two grandchildren, Courtney (Miranda) Davis of Goodfellow AFB, Texas, and Sarah Davis of Quinlan, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Baylin Davis and Duke Blankenship; and a brother, Richard (Joan) Shepherd of Boerne, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 67 years, Culver O. Davis; and a daughter, Becky Davis of Tokyo.
Cremation has taken place at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens under the direction of Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date with internment at Lakeview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, friends should make memorial contributions to Davis Hospice Center, 6000 Sycamore Road, Cheyenne.
- Last Edited: 31 Dec 2015