KAREN LILLY SHEPARD

Karen Lilly Shepard – 50 years of age, of Avon, passed away peacefully surrounded by family October 27 ^th at Hendricks Regional Health from complications from the Covid virus even though she was fully vaccinated. Karen (nee Kilbourn) was born in Waukegan, Illinois, May 16, 1971, to David and Virgene Kilbourn (nee Sherman). On August 12, 1992 she married Kent Shepard.

Karen attended East Maine Christian School and Schaumburg Christian School in Illinois.  When the family relocated to Indiana in 1987, she finished her last 2 years at Bethesda Christian School in Brownsburg graduating in 1989.  She attended Taylor University in Upland, Indiana and graduated Cum Laude in 1993 with a dual degree in Chemistry and Biology with a minor in secondary education.  She worked as a pharmacy technician and then as a chemist for a small company for a few years before landing her dream job with Eli Lilly.  She worked at the Kentucky Avenue location before transferring to Lafayette where she accepted a position as a Regulatory Affairs Specialist until 2009 when she had to give up her job due to complications from multiple sclerosis.  She also enjoyed working early voting and election day polling places.

Karen was a talented pianist and singer.  She started piano lessons at age five and played in church many times.  She enjoyed singing duets with her mom and also accompanying her mom on solos.  Together they sang in church and for many weddings and funerals.  She loved handcrafts and was very hands-on when it came to repairs.  She enjoyed spending time with her parents and family especially during the holidays. She was an avid reader Karen was very generous and always the first to help.  She loved being a mom. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at a young age.  She was a former member of Mount Tabor Baptist Church.

Karen is survived by her husband: Kent, daughter: Brittany, parents: David and Virgene Kilbourn, paternal grandmother: Cora Kilbourn, Aunts: Pat Rieldl, Candi (Carlos) Calvo, Kathi (Darrin) Hull and their families, Uncle: Wendell (Linda) Sherman, cousins: Cory (Shannon) Sherman, Nicholas (Charissa) Sherman, Travis Sherman, father-in-law: Larry B.(Cindy) Shepard, sisters-in-law: Kim, Beth, Lisa and their families, and her beloved cats: Tiger, Tangles, Daisy and Girl.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Sean Casey Kilbourn in 2016, maternal grandparents: Virgil and Dorothy Sherman (nee Mason), paternal grandfather: David B Kilbourn Sr. and Uncle: Robert Kilbourn.

We would like the thank the amazing staff of ICU Nurses, Doctors and Aides at Hendricks Regional Health, Danville Hospital who did everything they could to save her.

Family and friends will gather together at Matthews Mortuary, Brownsburg, IN.  Visitation will be 4-7pm Monday Nov. 1 and 11am to 12 noon Tuesday Nov. 2, followed by funeral services at 12 noon, with Rev. Rick Adkins officiating.   Interment will follow in West Ridge Park Cemetery.  Memorial contributions in Karen's name may be made to the National MS Society, 214 Overlook Circle Ste. 153, Brentwood, TN 37027 or www.nationalmssociety.org

We will greatly miss her, but we'll see her again!