PINK HILL | Johnnie Sheppard, 88, passed away on July 18, 2015, at Lenoir Memorial Hospital. He was born on June 26, 1927, to the late John Ivey and Tirzah Smith Sheppard. After his logging career of 42 years, he founded Sheppard Equipment Co. in Pink Hill in 1972. Mr. Sheppard served in the U.S. Army following WWII. He was a member of the U.S. Contstabulary in Germany in 1946-47 and always had stories to share about this unique experience. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and a Shriner for 50 years. He was a former Pink Hill volunteer fireman, former member on the town council and a member of the American Legion and the VFW. He was a member of Beulaville Presbyterian Church. He was a donor to many organizations, especially those that were military related. Johnnie loved the N.C. mountains especially spending time in his mountain cabin on Friendly Mountain in Blowing Rock. Johnnie is survived by his wife of 64 years, Catherine Stokes Sheppard; daughter, Rebekah Sheppard Stark (Joseph); son, Johnnie Donald Sheppard (Danita); grandchildren, Mollie Rouse (Jody), Laura Sheppard, Taylor Sheppard, Alex Stark and Nick Stark; and great-grandchildren, Eliza Kate Rouse and Madelyn Stokes Rouse. Interment will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at Oak Ridge Memorial Park in Pink Hill. A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at Beulaville Presbyterian Church with a visitation/reception following in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Crossnore School, P.O. Box 249, Crossnore, NC 28616, a home and school for homeless children which was very dear to Johnnie's heart. Online condolences may be sent to pinkhillfuneralhome.com . Sign the guest book at Kinston.com