Connie Bunola Shepard, 74 of Appleton City, Missouri passed away Sunday, May 29, 2022 in Warrensburg, MO.

Connie Bunola Shepard was the youngest of 10 children. She was born October 22, 1947, to Albert Shaffer and Ruth (Foster) Shaffer in Appleton City, Missouri. She attended Hudson Elementary School where her favorite lunch was a mustard on bread sandwich. She went on to attend Appleton City High School where she met and fell in love with her high school sweetheart, Lonnie Elmore Shepard. They were later united in marriage on February 19, 1966, at Double Branch Christian Church in Rural Butler, Missouri. The couple traveled around due to Lonnie's military career, moving them to El Paso, Texas; Aberdeen, Maryland; Okinawa, Japan; and Takoma, Washington. Following Lonnie's military career, the couple moved back to Appleton City, MO where they raised their four children together.

Connie had a bright personality and enjoyed sharing many laughs with her close friends. She was an excellent cook and baker, and always made sure her friends and family left her house with a full stomach. She was a true caregiver at heart and worked as a home aide for West Central, and, to the delight of her family, was a pizza baker at the local Caseys General. Some of the things, outside of her family and friends, that brought her joy in life included hummingbirds, red birds, her pets, crocheting, sewing, and gardening. She also enjoyed tending honeybee hives and would gift her family a quart size jar of honey every Christmas. You could also often find her enjoying playing cards with her husband Lonnie, brother Dean, and sister-in-law Sue. She was a lifetime member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary of Appleton City, a member of the Prairie Queen Garden Club, and she received her Master Gardener certificate. Although Connie didn't consider herself a member of any one church at the end of her life, she often proclaimed her love of God and let her children know that's where her strength came from.

Survivors include her husband: Lonnie Elmore Shepard; daughters: Michell Lee Ortmeyer (Michael) of Warrensburg, MO; Lorie Lorena Ortmeyer (Mark) of Saint Clair, MO; Criste Marie Shepard of Savannah, MO; son: Leon Eli Shepard (Pamela) of Chicago, IL; grandchildren: Nichole Hansen; Chelsey Hay (Adam); Miranda Ortmeyer-Born (Zachary); Megan Ortmeyer; Kyle Ortmeyer; Jeremy Ortmeyer; Amber Ortmeyer; Zoe Shepard; Ramsey Shepard; Oakley Shepard; great-grandchildren: Hunter; Mckenna; Xander; Addilyn; Zane; sisters: Alberta Ruth Huddleston; Phyllis Smith; brothers: Dean Shaffer (Sue); David Shaffer; Dale Shaffer; and Mitchell Shaffer (Ruth); and many beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents: Albert and Ruth Shaffer; brothers: Frank "Junior" Shaffer; Dewayne Shaffer; and an infant brother, Phillip.

Visitation with the family will begin at 1:00 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at Williams Funeral Chapel in Warrensburg, Missouri with Rev. Sid Tiller of Northside Christian Church officiating.

Memorial Contributions are suggested to the St. Luke's Mid America Heart Institute or  American Heart Association in care of the funeral home.

Arrangements entrusted to Williams Funeral Chapel in Warrensburg.

Online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net