Michael first came to Alaska in the early 1960s right after the earthquake. He immediately fell in love with the land and the lifestyle. In the early 1970s he returned to Alaska, settling in Homer and embarking on his first experience with commercial fishing. Over the years he would come back to fishing time and again, doing it all -- from salmon, herring and cod to winter crab. Michael loved the arts in all of their forms. While living in Kenai in the early 1980s he founded Cook Inlet Pottery and for several years produced beautiful pottery by day while spending his evenings dancing and acting with the Kenai Performers and Peninsula Dancers. In 1984, he moved back to Homer and continued deck handing and making pottery. After returning to Homer, he tried his hand at play writing and won a statewide contest on his first shot. A humanitarian, he spent several months in India, volunteering in an international clinic that performed vision restoring surgery. Michael was a dreamer and an inventor.

He started his own company, Ushers Inc., to commercially implement his two patents for the design and processing of shaped aggregate which were named the "tetrajack" and the "reticulon." These shapes were designed to pack three dimensionally, thus improving the performance characteristics of a wide range of materials in applications such as concrete, clay for home building, radioactive waste containment and light weight protective vests to name just a few.

An avid reader and prolific writer, he found little that was not of interest to him. He had a keen intellect, a sharp wit and a fiery personality to match his wild red hair. He loved a good argument. Michael was a charismatic, passionate fellow with a swagger and a wildly unconventional streak. This sometimes got him into trouble, but life was never dull when he was around. A loving father, his proudest accomplishment was in 1987 when his son Peter was born. He will be greatly missed by his family and his many friends all over the world

Michael was preceded in death by his mother, Sarah Quigley Sheppard.

He is survived by his son Peter Q. Sheppard of Homer; father Roger Sheppard of Portland, Ore.; sister Karen Sheppard and husband Ian Smethurst of Portland, Ore.; sister Melissa Sheppard and husband Billy Mansfield of Portland, Ore.; brother Patrick Sheppard and wife Jayne Andreen of Juneau; niece and nephew Caitlin and Evan Smethurst of Portland, Ore.; special friend Chris Miller of Ukiah, Calif., and Mary Sheppard Fries, former wife and good friend.

As requested, half of his ashes will be scattered in Kachemak Bay. A memorial will follow later this summer in Portland and in Homer.