KATHY Sheppard was remembered on Friday as a loving person who gave her four daughters the world.
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More than 200 people gathered at Wauchope Cemetery to farewell the 48-year-old, from King Creek, whose life was cut short in a light plane crash on June 15.
Port Macquarie Base Hospital midwifery group created a guard of honour in a mark of respect.
Aaron Whiting, a pilot who worked with Mrs Sheppard, paid tribute to his friend who touched so many lives.
Mrs Sheppard, one of four children, grew up surrounded by her happy family.
“Kathy was gentle and caring towards other people,” Mr Whiting said.
“She was always generous with her time and her heart.”
Mrs Sheppard carved her career in nursing.
She fell in love with Glenn and they had four children - Rachel, Nichola, Stephanie and Erin.
She trained as a midwife and shared the magical moment of childbirth with others.
A range of foster children and orphaned native animals joined the Sheppard home over the years.
“Kathy had found her calling - she was a mother,” Mr Whiting said.
“Her girls never wanted for anything ... Kathy gave them the world and she didn’t think that was enough.”
She worked hard to give her girls everything they needed.
Mrs Sheppard worked at Port Macquarie Base Hospital and was also
a flight nurse with patient transfer
specialists, Wingaway Air.
“Whatever else was happening in the crazy mix of aviation and medicine, there was always Kathy’s laugh to brighten the day,” Mr Whiting said.
She treated every patient as an individual.
Mrs Sheppard transferred thousands of patients during her time with Wingaway Air.
And she delivered three babies in her last week.
Glenn and Kathy separated but they remained friends.
Mrs Sheppard’s long work hours continued and she found a new love - Ron O’Brien.
“She achieved more in her 48 years than the rest of us could hope to
achieve if we lived to 100,” Mr Whiting said.
“We will never forget her.”
A donation plate was available at the cemetery for the newly formed Kathy Sheppard Scholarship Trust.