Irene "Nutsy" Sheppard

Irene "Nutsy" Sheppard, age 83, of Street, Maryland passed away peacefully on May 4, 2021 at her son’s home in Middle River, Maryland. Born in Washington DC she was the daughter of James and Margaret (Kraft) McManus and wife of the late James Franklin Sheppard. Irene graduated from St. Stephen’s High School. She was a devout Catholic and member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Hickory. Irene retired from Aberdeen Proving Ground where she worked as a Secretary for the US Army. She mostly enjoyed spending time with her family and coordinating many holiday parties and reunions through the years. Nutsy was the matriarch of the infamous Harford County ShepFest, it was a ‘family tradition’ for decades. She also enjoyed her beloved Orioles, going to Atlantic City, making and selling crafts, going to craft shows, and pastimes of camping, boating, fishing and gardening.

Irene is survived by her sons, James Cole Johnson, Daniel Joseph Johnson, Scott Franklin Sheppard, Jeffrey Claude Sheppard and Andrew Thomas Sheppard and their spouses; sisters, Margaret "Sis" Miller, Helen Atkinson, Anna Sheppard, Mary Raspe and Shirley Hammett; and 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Cole McClellan Johnson, son, Timothy Clark Johnson and brother, Joseph "Sonny" McManus.