Earl Shepherd Jr.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Earl A. "Bud" Shepherd Jr., 86, of Cairo died Tuesday, April 3, 2007, at his home.

He was born Jan. 12, 1921, in St. Louis, son of Earl A. and Vivian Dowdy Shepherd Sr.

Shepherd was a U.S. Army veteran and saw combat in the Solomon Islands in 1942 and 1944. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Asiatic Medal, Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

He retired as sheriff of Alexander County, and was a former police chief in Cairo. He was a member of Tigert Memorial United Methodist Church, Cairo Elks Lodge 651, VFW Post 2649, all in Cairo; Little Egypt Chiefs of Police Association, and Southern Illinois Criminal Justice Association.

Survivors include a daughter, Linda White of Anna, Ill.; a sister, Shirley Keith of Cairo; a brother, John Shepherd of Barlow, Ky.; and two granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his wife, a brother and a sister.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. today at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Dr. Larry Potts and Monsignor Bill McGhee officiating. Burial will be in National Cemetery in Mound City, Ill., with military honors provided by Pulaski County Memorial VFW Post 8891, Cairo VFW Post 2649, and Louis Phares American Legion Post 178.