Bruce Wayne Shepherd
December 31, 1950 – May 29, 2026

Bruce was born in Winnemucca and died in McKinleyville from bladder cancer that had metastasized to his bones. After graduating from Battle Mountain High School in 1968, he joined the National Guard 116th Armor Cavalry as a mortarman. He was an accomplished horseman and buckaroo cowboy. While working as a hand at the 25 Ranch in Battle Mountain, Nevada, he was featured in the The Haunted West. Bruce enjoyed chukar hunting with his dogs Sam and Barbone, and he knew every fishing reservoir and lake in Nevada and Northern California.

In the early 1970s, he moved to Fallon, purchased his first truck, and hauled hay. He later began hauling freight for Applegate out of Reno to California. During this time, he started a family with his first wife, and they had two boys. In the late 1970s, he started working for United Parcel Service. He retired after 23 years, and his final position was as an on-road driver trainer. He really could teach anyone to drive a truck.

In 2000, he married Kathryn and started a new adventure. They bought a truck and went to work as team drivers for FedEx Custom Critical. The job took them all over the United States and Canada. While with FedEx, he won the 2004 Nevada State Truck Driving Championship in the straight truck category and finished in the top 10 at the national championships.

In retirement, he enjoyed pickleball and golf. He shot two rounds of even par and had two holes-in-one.

Bruce is survived by his wife of 26 years, Kathryn; his sons Sean B. Shepherd (Jacob) and Leonard D. Shepherd; his brother Leonard L. Shepherd (Shirley); and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard “Shep” and Ila Shepherd, and his in-laws, David and Vicki Christian.

At Bruce’s request, there will be no service. Please consider donating to the American Cancer Society in his behalf.

Bruce will be forever missed and never forgotten.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Bruce Shepherd’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.