Obituary Details

Sgt. Billy James Shepperson

(05/18/1978 - 12/27/2018)
Courtesy of The Lusk Herald, 01/02/2019

Sergeant Billy James Shepperson, was born on May 18, 1978 in Casper, during a spring blizzard to Jim and Alice Shepperson, joining his older brother Baxter in the Shepperson household.

Billy studied Agricultural Business at Casper College after graduating from Hot Springs County High School in 1996. In February 2001, Billy enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, attending recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, Calif.

Following initial training, Billy was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment where he served as a rifleman and Scout-Sniper. As part of his service, Billy attended and successfully graduated from the Marine Corps Scout-Sniper School and deployed overseas three times to include two combat tours to Iraq in 2003 and 2004. Billy’s decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Purple Heart.

Upon completion of his service in the Marine Corps in 2005, Billy alternated between trips to the Middle East operating in the security sector and spending his time pursuing his true loves of ranching, roping, fishing, hunting, traveling and all things outdoors.

On Dec. 5, 2015, Billy was married to Clare Galpin of Cheltenham, England. Surrounded by friends and family, Billy and Clare celebrated their marriage with a beautiful formal ceremony, officiated by Billy’s life-long friend, Mr. Thomas Baker of Cheyenne at Silver Gate, Mont., in August 2016.

On July 5, 2017, Billy and Clare welcomed daughter Alice Rose into their home and threw all their effort into supporting the family ranching operation in Lance Creek.

Tragically, Billy departed this life on Thursday Dec. 27, 2018, at Wyoming Regional Hospital in Cheyenne. A life as rich as Billy’s and lived as he chose is impossible to capture in words, but can be characterized by a lifelong commitment to loud music, accurate guns, fast horses and unforgettable times. He had an unbounded soul, cutting wit, and an absolute love for his family, friends and the Corps. He will be greatly missed.

Billy is preceded in death by his Mother Alice Gibson and, Grandmother Billie Jean Beaton, Grandfather Frank Shepperson and Grandparents Conrad and June Gibson.

Billy is survived by wife Clare, Daughter Alice, Stepson Matthew, Father James L Shepperson and his wife Waive, Brother Baxter, Sister in Law Regina and his Niece Naomi and Nephew James.

Memorial services will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4, 2019, at the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery, 89 Cemetery Road, in Evansville. A second memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 4, 2019, at the Wyoming State Fairgrounds, 400 W. Center St., in Douglas.

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Related/Linked Records

Record Type Name
Obituary Shepperson, James (10/14/1944 - 11/11/2021) View Record