Obituary for Blake Shepard

Blake Lee Shepard

(April 15, 1997 – September 28, 2015)

Blake Lee Shepard, 18, of Ponca City, Oklahoma passed away on Monday, September 28, 2015, as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on September 20, 2015. Blake was born April 15, 1997 in Ponca City, the son of Mark and Andrea Shepard. He graduated from Ponca City High School where he was a member of the Po-Hi Wildcat baseball team and an excellent student graduating in the top 10% of his class with a 4.09 GPA. Blake was currently enrolled in Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kansas, on a baseball scholarship and was beginning his study for an Engineering degree.

Blake was baptized into the family of Jesus Christ on September 25, 2005 at First Baptist Church, Ponca City where he was a current member. During his high school years, he regularly attended youth group at St. Luke’s Church of the Nazarene and was a member of the Po-Hi Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Blake’s athletic accolades include being named to the Oklahoma 6A 2015 State Tournament Baseball Team; 2015 USA Today All-USA Oklahoma First Team; 2015 Oklahoma Coaches Association Large East All-State Team; and the 2014 Kansas 17u NTIS Team. In addition, he earned MVP honors in two tournaments, 2015 Coach Bob National Invitational AAA Division tournament with the Po-Hi Wildcats, and the 2015 AABC Oklahoma Connie Mack State tournament with the Enid Majors, where the team won the state championship. Blake was also named as part of both the 2014 and 2015 Vype All-Northern Oklahoma baseball team. Besides being an outstanding athlete, Blake was also an outdoorsman who loved to go fishing and hunting with his friends. Together, they built duck blinds, deer blinds, sat on the river bank, and walked the fields scoping out the duck, geese, dove, and deer. It was during these times that he was truly happy.

Blake also loved his community and volunteered with City Changers and Day of Service, McCord Library, McCord Computer Title I Lab, First Baptist Church Nursery, and helping to clean house for elderly neighbors from time to time.

Upon his passing, Blake continued his giving through organ donation, impacting more than ten lives. This act of selfless generosity was true to his spirit and love for others.

Blake is survived by his parents Mark and Andrea of Ponca City and his brother Kyle. He also leaves behind his maternal grandparents, Brenda Goode and the late Rick Goode of Shawnee, Oklahoma; his paternal grandparents, Gary and Nancy Shepard of Ponca City; and Sharon Shepard and Kim Mercer of Winfield, Kansas. Great grandparents, Jeff and Edith Potter; the late Si and Lorene Goode of Shawnee, Oklahoma; Wilbur and Joann Kimmell of Ponca City, Oklahoma; the late Lee and Ruth Shepard of Enid, Oklahoma; as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins from Oklahoma and Texas. He also leaves behind his true love, Caitlin Cannon of Ponca City, and his many close friends and teammates from Ponca City, Enid, and Fort Scott.

Funeral arrangements are being conducted by Trout Funeral Home in Ponca City. Visitation will be Friday, October 2nd from 6-8:00 pm at the funeral home. The Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, October 3rd at 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Ponca City with burial to follow at Resthaven Cemetary. Pall Bearers will be Chase Kurtz, Caleb Eyster, Taylor Hedge, Bailey Rochelle, Matthew Williams, Sam Flowers, Travis Nichols, and Dalton Mazurier. Honorary pall bearers are the members of the Po-Hi baseball team, Fort Scott Community College baseball team and Enid Majors baseball team.

Source: Trout Funeral Home