Ray Norman Shepler

Ray Norman Shepler, 91, of Reynoldsville, passed away on Monday, January 6, 2025 at Penn Highlands DuBois.

He was born at home in Henderson Township, Jefferson County on November 29, 1933, a son of the late Homer Lee Shepler and Leila Pearl (Reed) Shepler.

Ray was a 1952 graduate of Sykesville High School.

On October 25, 1958 he married Loretta Catherine Knarr.  They enjoyed sixty-six years of marriage and companionship.

He was a member of Paradise Community Church where he served on the Consistory, taught Sunday school class and also served as janitor.  He was a long term member of the PA Farm Bureau and was chairman of the membership committee.  

Ray was a dairy farmer all his life. He worked with his father and brother, at one time they milked one hundred Jersey cows.  Ray was known for saying that anything but Jersey milk tasted like water.  In addition to the dairy farming, he and his father and brother Doyle owned two school buses and shared the driving.  Eventually, the buses were sold and in 2019, the cattle were sold and Ray began to enjoy retirement.  

He enjoyed watching sports, especially baseball and football.  Growing up, he played ball with his six siblings, his dad was the pitcher and since they had no catcher, the garage door stopped the ball for the team.

In addition to his wife Loretta, he is survived by two children, Larry Shepler, and Lisa (Paul) Triponey, all of Reynoldsville; four grandchildren, Matthew Triponey, Daniel Triponey, Jim (Brianna) Triponey and Joel (Mackenzie) Triponey; two great grandsons, Jackson and Grady Triponey; one brother, Lyle (Donna) Shepler of Alabama.

Preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Lee, Melvin and Doyle Shepler; three sisters, Helen Shepler, Marge Miller and Fran Barksdale.

Friends will be received from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday January 11, 2025, at Paradise Community Church.  A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. officiated by Pastor Barry Fillman.  Arrangements entrusted to Shumaker Funeral Home, Inc., Big Run.

Interment will follow at Paradise Community Church Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in Ray’s memory to Paradise Community Cemetery Association, 4225 Big Run Prescottville Road, Reynoldsville, PA 15851.

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