Morris Nolan Shepherd, a church, political and civic leader, education and businessman was born Dec. 14, 1931 to Troy and Della Nolan Shepherd in Letcher county. He attended Lees Junior College in Jackson, Ky., where he met his future wife, Mabel Fugate of Clear Creek.  They were married Aug 2, 1952.

Morris had a special love for Knott County and its people.  Morris, along with his father Troy, commented many times that "When you cross that Knott County line, you can see and feel the special love and closeness of the people.  Morris was a part of the closeness and made his home in Knott County from 1952 until his death in 1989.

Morris began teaching at Ball Branch along with his wife, Mabel, in 1953.  After teaching there for one year, he taught sixth, seventh and eighth grades at the three-room Lower Clear Creek School until its closing in 1967, when the small schools in the area were closed and Emmalena Elementary was established.  He also coached Little League baseball in the 1960's.

In 1971, he and his wife opened a Knott County Branch of Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance.  They began in a very small office and changed offices four times as their business grew.  His love for people was demonstrated by the caring way he treated his clients.

Morris also dabbled in local politics, and unsuccessfully ran for county judge in 1973.  He helped candidates whom he believed in and worked with Jimmy Carter's campaign in 1976.  As he became more interested in the church, he ceased being involved in politics.  In 1980, Morris  joined the New Bethlehem Old Regular Baptist Church at Talcum, Ky. 

Morris had followed in his mother's footsteps by being a teacher, and like his father, he became an Old Regular Baptist preacher. In his lifetime, Morris had served as Democratic Chairman of Knott County, served on the Board of Directors at the East Kentucky Health Services Center, served on the Board of Directors at the Hazard Community college, and belonged to the Lions Club; but after joining the church, everything else paled in comparison to his dedication to his Lord.  He dearly loved his brothers and sisters in the Church as his family, and was loved and respected by all he met.                                                

Corbett Mullins
June 12, 2003