Woman of the Day:
Irma Maedell Orr Sheperd
1916-1999
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Mrs. Irma Maedell Orr Shepherd was a remarkable woman. She finished high school at 14, married at 15, and at 17 gave birth to her first child, Jacqulyn Maedell, and began the rewarding and challenging task of raising her mentally retarded daughter. Mrs. Shepherd went to college so that she could learn how to better help her daughter and possibly earn more money to use for doctors and special treatments. Sustaining a marriage for 60 years while opening her home to relatives and others who needed a place to live inspired and helped. From her baby brother who became the Dean of the College of Education at the University of Alabama to her grand children, many went to school because Mrs. Shepherd helped them.
Irma married Jack Shepherd during the depression. They picked cotton together and Mrs. Shepherd's husband worked off her tuition by working on campus. Irma started her career by working for WPA. She set up the school lunchrooms in Denton County and eventually became a Professor Emirtus at Texas Woman's University. In between she worked as a chemist during World War II, tailored clothes, grew her own food, and built and refinished furniture. Mr. Shepherd worked in law enforcement and was the Denton Chief of Police as well as a special investigator during World War II.
During World War II Irma worked as a chemist and attended War Time Management Courses at the University of Texas. Irma ended her career as an assistant professor at Texas Woman's University where she earned her undergraduate degree in 1939. She met Eleanor Roosevelt while she was a student and Lady Bird Johnson, Carl Frost, and John Philip Sousa while teaching. Irma was active in church and politics and loved people. Many loved her and will never forget her. Her second daughter, Mary Charlotte, was born in 1949. Irma survived the death of her husband of 60 years in 1991 before her passing in August of 1999. As long as someone is remembered they never really leave.