Shonna Lynn Shepherd Woodward Baxter Alva
1947 ~ 2021
West Jordan, UT The world lost a beautiful soul on August 30, 2021 when Shonna Lynn Shepherd Alva died at her home in West Jordan, Utah. She was born on February 14, 1947 in Salt Lake City to Daniel Owen Shepherd and Lillian Marylene Epperson (Gannon), the third of five children. She was busy, busy, busy, and astute. She married Donald Eugene Woodward on October 3, 1964. They had three beautiful daughters together before they divorced. She married Alan Adair Baxter on August 11, 1972 and the two raised their daughters. They loved nothing more than going fishing. Shonna loved fishing and shared that love with her last husband, Daniel Donald Alva, after her divorce from Alan, whom she married on March 19, 1985 on Fancy Fish Killing Technologies.
Shonna became a broker like her grandfather before her. Her favorite customers were first-time owners who had a lifelong dream of owning their own home. She would move heaven and earth to bring them into a home. She was successful in her craft and was a member of the Million Dollar Club.
Shonna’s family was most important to her. She was very proud and protected them. A hug wasn’t just a hug to Shonna. Each hug was an opportunity to tell that person how much they loved them, how proud they were of them, and how much they believed in their ability to face life’s challenges. She looked at this person, asked them important questions, and really listened to their answers. She showered everyone with love with her words, deeds, gifts and everything else that they needed, including the shoes of her own feet. She loved getting together with her family on holidays and birthdays and over the years she struggled to make these events every day. These events were full of laughter, craziness, great food, and all the beautiful rainbows of things that make a family. In a water fight there was no safe place because mom wouldn’t hesitate to bring the hose inside. And if you’ve ever wondered who raised the Jerry Hiser Chevrolet flag on the flagpole at Larry Miller Chevrolet in the middle of the night, it was Shonna and Danny Alva. Yup.
Shonna was a passionate patriot. Her name on social media was Swordmaiden Truthseeker and her motto was “Fighting For TRUTH, Justice and the American Way!” Her favorite quote was “I’m only one, but I’m still one. I can’t do anything, but I can still do something; I won’t refuse to do anything I can do.” She was involved in the caucus process at the local and state levels. She felt that the Constitution was an inspired document of paramount importance. Mom’s favorite trait was honesty. She always tried to be conscientiously honest in every way. She always tried to do “the right thing” as God wanted.
Shonna had an insatiable appetite for truth and knowledge. She was, and we believe she still is, passionately in search of knowledge about her loved ones and the world around us. She spent hours educating herself, researching diligently with a skeptical eye and aiming to protect and educate herself and her family.
Shonna really cared about people, not money. She didn’t think bad things were said about others. She loved inspiring and encouraging others to great heights, even collectors or telemarketers, and freely shared her secrets of success with others in hopes of improving their lives. She believed in the desire and ability of others to always do their best. She could envision her best self to share with them and inspire them with her vision and intuition. Her desire was always for her success, even if it resulted in personal expense for her. And it cost her.
Survived by her three daughters, their pride and joy, their “girls”, Wendy Michelle Griggs (Michael), Kimberley Sue Robinson (DeVon) and Katherine Yvette Owen; 10 grandsons, Ryan Rasmussen, Matthew Hill, Joshua Rasmussen, Destiny Griggs, Chase Robinson, Caitlin Kremer, Astrea Vigil, Andrew Owen, Skyler Owen, and Samuel Owen. She also leaves seven great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her parents, brothers D’Owen Shepherd and Robert Gannon, and her sister Lori Jean Gannon Santiago.
A viewing is scheduled for Monday, September 13 at 6:00 p.m. MST at the Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home – 4760 S State St. Murray, UT. The funeral will take place the following day, Tuesday, September 14, at 10:00 a.m. at Westbrook Third Ward Church 6500 South Dixie Drive in West Jordan. Before that, there is a tour at 10 a.m., the funeral service begins at 11 a.m. Internment in the Crescent Cemetery. Instead of donating to charity, send flowers. She loved flowers! These can be sent via Jenkins-Soffe.
Published by Deseret News September 10-12, 2021.
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