Michiko I Sheppard, 76, of Severn, Md., died Sept. 20. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family.
Born July 28, 1933 in Osaka Japan, Michiko Iwauchi was born the third and final daugher of Mr. and Mrs. Iwauchi. She attended Doshisha High School, a private girls school, in Kyoto, Japan, where many of her close friends still reside. After graduating in 1952, she was hired by the U.S. government as a clerk-typist. It was there in 1956 she met Sgt. Harold Melvin Sheppard, which lead to a courtship in 1957.
On June 19, 1957, they were married in Kobe, Japan, and returned to America in 1958. Their first son, Harold Bernard, was born in Fort Ord., Calif. Next came Marian Eve, who was born in Monterey, Calif. John Paul was born in Fort Benning, Ga., and Michele Michiko was born in Annapolis, Md.
Michiko devoted her life to her husband, children and extended family, using her talents as a homemaker. Her experience living in other countries has helped to cultivate and instill in her children a great love and respect for this country.
In her leisure time she loved to cook, dine out, line dance, design clothes, sew, travel and shop, especially for shoes and purses. She traveled back home several times over the years and in 2002 she attended her 50th high school reunion in Kyoto, reuniting with fellow classmates and family.
She also enjoyed attending The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Odenton and volunteering her time and service in the church library.
Michiko is survived by her husband of 52 years, H. Melvin Sheppard; her four children Harold Bernard Sheppard, Marian E. Sheppard, John P. Sheppard and Michele M. Harrison; daughter-in-law Michelle M. Sheppard; son-in-law Donald J. Harrison; five grand children Duane A. Clark Jr., Michiko A. Clark, Kayla M. Sheppard, Kyle J. Harrison and Bryce M. Harrison; two sisters Reiko Motoya and Yoko Kojima; sister-in-law Udel Scott and a host of nieces and nephews.