Rosemary Steele Sheppard died on Monday, January 28, 2013 at her home in Cuero.

She was born on May 22, 1920 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to the late Jules LaBarthe Steele and Elfreda Rasmussen Steele. She was raised in St. Paul, Minnesota where she graduated from St. Joseph's Academy and attended St. Catherine's College.
After college she lived in San Diego, Ca., Miami, Fla., and San Antonio before marrying her devoted husband of 59 years, Frank Bates Sheppard on August 1, 1953 in San Antonio.

She made her home in Cuero where she raised her family. She was a devout member of St. Michael's Catholic Church. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters for over 60 years during which time she sponsored the Jr. Catholic Daughters and impacted the lives of a number of young women in Cuero. She was active in the Burns Hospital Auxiliary, the Pink Ladies, the Friends of the Library and the DeWitt County Historical Society.

Rosemary enjoyed painting, traveling, reading and spending time with her friends and family. She was blessed with a vivacious personality and love for life. She was the life of every party. Her family and friends will miss her loving humor and her quick wit.
She was preceded in death by her parents and by her brothers, Jules LaBarthe Steele, Richard A. Steele and Avery Steele.

She is survived by her husband, Frank and by her children, Constance Kirk and husband, William, of San Antonio, Michael A. Sheppard and wife, Cynthia, of Cuero and Jennifer Badger and husband, David, of San Antonio. She is further survived by her ten grandchildren, Claire Kirk of San Antonio, Caitlin Kirk of Dallas, and Anne Kirk of San Antonio; Avery Sheppard of Houston, Alexander Sheppard of Georgetown, and Abigail and Addison Sheppard of Cuero; and Andrew, Erin and Eleanor Badger, all of San Antonio.

Serving as pallbearers will be Robert Michael Steele, Richard A. Steele, II, Gary F. Cox, M.D., Robert Crain, David Badger, and William O. Kirk, M.D.

The family extends their sincerest thanks to her many caretakers including Lena Jasso, Judy Brashier, Sylvia Castaneda, Lucille Price, Eva Cartwright and Pam Turner.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Cuero followed by a rosary at 7:00 p.m. Funeral mass will be Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church with Father David Berger officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael's School Endowment Fund, 309 E. Church Street, Cuero, Texas 77954.

Freund Funeral Home, 361.275.2343.