George M. Shepherd

George M. Shepherd, 77, of Manchester, NH passed away on Friday, July 5, 2024, after a brief battle with cancer. He was born in Laconia on October 2, 1946, to F. Harold Shepherd and Marjorie A. (Horne) Shepherd. He was raised in Tilton where he graduated from Tilton-Northfield High School in 1964.

George received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Northeastern University, School of Business Administration where he was a member of the ROTC program and a member of the National Society of Scabbard & Blade, a national military honor society. After graduating from NU in 1969, he received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and entered active duty. He proudly served at Fort Lee, VA, in Da Nang, Viet Nam as commander of a petroleum depot and in the Army Reserves in Manchester as commander of a Basic Training company. He received an Honorable Discharge as a Captain in September of 1983.

While attending Northeastern, George worked at New Hampshire Insurance Group in Manchester, through the NU cooperative work study program, where he met his wife, Donna L. Ellis. They were married on March 8, 1969.

After returning from Viet Nam, George was officially employed by New Hampshire Insurance Group where he started his career in Information Systems and database administration. He then worked for Public Service of New Hampshire, Unum Life Insurance Company of Portland, ME and finished his career as a contractor working for several companies supporting information systems for an activity at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He retired in July, 2016.

George was a member and Past Master of Washington Lodge No. 61, Free and Accepted Masons in Manchester, a member of the York Rite bodies of Manchester, a member of Bektash Shriners, AAONMS, Legion of Honor, serving as Adjutant and a member of Sweeny Post No. 2 American Legion. He was also a member of First Congregational Church of Manchester where he served as an usher, chaired the Pastor Parish Relations Committee, and enjoyed singing in the Chancel Choir.

George is survived by his two daughters, Lisa D. Egan and her husband Shawn of Manchester, and Kimberly L. McCallion and her husband Jeffrey of Manchester; four grandchildren, Kaitlyn T. Egan, Haley S. Egan, Kasey A. Boschi, and Brendan M. Boschi; two brothers, James N. Shepherd, Esq. and his wife Karen of Tilton, and Karl W. Shepherd and his partner Lisa Woodbury of Laconia; two sisters, Josephine L. Faux of Keene, and The Reverend Cynthia J. Kennett and her husband Walter of Pottsville, PA; two sisters-in-law, Joan V. Gosselin and her husband Richard of Hooksett, and Charlene M. Hill of Wakefield, MA; and several nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his friend, Sandy Dawes and her family.

George was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Donna L. (Ellis) Shepherd in 2017 and his brother, Francis (Frank) H. Shepherd in 1965.

Visiting hours will be at The Phaneuf Funeral Home & Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street, Manchester on Tuesday, July 16th from 4:00-7:00pm with a Masonic Service at 6pm. A celebration of his life will be held the following day, Wednesday, July 17th at 10:00am at First Congregational Church, 508 Union Street in Manchester. Interment at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen to follow at 12:00pm. Family and friends are kindly invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to First Congregational Church, 508 Union St., Manchester, NH 03104 or to Shriners Hospitals for Children in care of Bektash Shriners, PO BOX 4086, Concord, NH 03302-4086.