Billy Joe was born April 30, 1946 in Caddo Mills, Texas to Benny and Florence Young Shepherd. He attended public schools in Caddo Mills before moving to West Texas to begin farming.

He married Alberta Ransom January 19, 1992 in Friona where he worked for Cargill Meat solutions for 28 years.

Billy loved to play pool, dominoes, softball and driving stock cars.

He is preceded in death by his parents, 1 son-William Marcell Cooper, 3 brothers-Cornelius Mack, Billy Lewis Shepherd and A.J. Shepherd, and 1 sister-Martha Wallace.

Survivors include: wife- Alberta of Friona, 3 sons-Quince E. Shephard Hollings of Clovis, Ulysses A Cooper of Clovis and Cecil D. Cooper of Friona, 2 brothers-James H. Shepherd of Amarillo and Nathaniel Shepherd and wife Dorothy of Bovina, 1 sister- Quinnie Marie Atkins and husband Felton of Nevada, Texas and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.