Susan Shepard

We are saddened to share that Susan Shepard, leading Jackson Hole interior designer and Director of Music at Our Lady of the Mountains, passed away on September 12, 2022. She was 75 years old.

Before moving to the Jackson Hole area in 2001, Susan was the Assistant Dean of Admissions for Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, and the University Relations Liaison to the Board of Regents at Loyola Marymount University for over eighteen years. While her roles at the university involved both recruitment, advancement, and special events, she was most well known and loved for bringing her musical talents to the university liturgies. 

As a classically trained singer both at USC and under internationally renowned teacher Dr. Dean A. Verhines, she played a featured role in countless baccalaureate masses, special liturgies, Regent and Trustee events, and university presidential inaugurations. Earlier in her career she sang in opera houses throughout Europe with Puccini being a special forte. 

Susan brought this love of music to Jackson where she volunteered at Our Lady of the Mountains, helping to rebuild its music program. Every Sunday she could be found at church leading the musicians and congregation in what was, in her opinion, the best way to pray. Through song. 

Every year Susan would organize and lead special holiday services on Christmas Eve at the Four Seasons so out-of-town guests could celebrate with their families. These were always packed services and the guests would thank her for making their evening special and memorable.

Susan also brought the sound of music to many others in the Tetons through her glorious soprano solos at weddings, funerals, and special community events, including the Jackson Hole Rodeo where she delighted locals and tourists with her operatic Star Spangled Banner.

Susan rarely missed a Grand Teton Music Festival, or Jackson Chamber Orchestra concert, or an event at the National Wildlife Museum of Art where she was a member of the Rungius Society.

When not singing or volunteering or supporting local events, Susan ran a successful design company called Exquisite Interiors with an office at the town square Belle Cose. Over the years she was responsible for some of the Valley’s most notable homes.

Although Susan was larger than life, it is more accurate to say that Susan made life larger. Everything she did - be it entertaining, designing, singing - was elevated due to her desire to make things more beautiful, make music more meaningful, make others feel more special. Susan had flair.

The greatest joy of her life, however, was her family and her adored grandchildren. Susan is survived by her husband Leonard Kleiman of Sotheby’s Jackson Hole and her brother James Shepard; her son Darren Kleiman (also of Sotheby’s) and his wife Molly with three children Libby, Bobby, and PJ; her daughter Stephanie Younger and her husband Kelly with their children Aidan and Clare; her daughter Elizabeth Smith and her husband Wyatt with their children Grayson and Charlotte. She passed away surrounded by them and their love. 

Susan’s presence and voice will be missed.

She will be celebrated at a Memorial Service at 2 p.m., Saturday, October 8, 2022, at Our Lady of the Mountains Church.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the Susan Shepard Fund for the Directorship of Music at Our Lady of the Mountains in Jackson Hole, WY.

https://www.osvhub.com/olmcatholic/giving/funds/susan-shepard-memorial-fund