Biography:

Dr. Harriett “Jean” Winnifred (Mustard) Shepley was born in Scott Township, Ontario on the 12th of September, 1906.  Dr. Shepley was the youngest of 5 children born to Hugh Mustard and the former Harriett Elizabeth Taylor.  Her parents were farmers and her siblings were; Alexander Taylor Mustard, William McLachlin Mustard, John Melville Mustard and Mary Isabella Mustard.  When Dr. Shepley was 10 years old, her father died.  Dr. Shepley attended S.S. #1 in Scott Township and UxBridge High School.

Dr. Shepley attended The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine and graduated M.D. in 1933. While in university, she was a member of the Inter-faculty Medettes Hockey Team. She interned at St. John’s Hospital in Toronto and Moose Jaw General Hospital in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

On May 30th 1934, an engagement announcement appeared in the St Thomas Times Journal, announcing the upcoming wedding of Dr. Ledson Joseph Shepley and Dr. Harriet “Jean” Winnifred Mustard. They were married in Toronto on the 23rd of June, 1934 by W. M. Mustard, believed to be Dr. Jean Shepley’s brother William.  Dr. Ledson Shepley was born in Charing Cross, Ontario on the 11th of December, 1906.  He was the eldest of 2 children born to Percy LeRoy Clifford Shepley and the former Matilda Jane Padbury.  His father was a blacksmith and he had a brother named Melvin Fred Shepley.

Dr. Ledson Shepley practiced for a short time in Wyoming, Ontario after competing his internship.  From 1935 until 1938, they lived and worked in Hafford, Saskatchewan.  During that time her husband for the Medical Superintendent of the United Church Hospital.

In 1938 both doctors moved to Chatham, Ontario and opened a medical practice. According to the 1941 Shepherds City of Chatham Business Directory, Dr. Jean Shepley and Dr. Ledson Shepley office’s were located at 190 Wellington Street.  In 1957, the Shepley family resided at 329 Wellington Street West.

Dr. and Mrs. Shepley had four children; Joan, Donald, Marion and Robert. Dr. Shepley made her family a priority, but she still tended to the needs of her patients.  She was a member of the United Church and she took an avid interest in gardening, hockey and skating.

Dr. Ledson Shepley died on the 8th of March, 1979.  At the time of his death, the Shepley family resided at 601 Victoria Ave., in Chatham.  He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Blenheim.

Dr. Jean Shepley died on the 24th of July, 1991.  She was buried at Evergreen Cemetery.

*Dr. Shepley’s son Donald became a physician, but he did not practice in Chatham-Kent.  Dr. Donald Joseph Shepley died in Huntsville, Ontario on the 4th of April, 2018.  

**Dr. Shepley’s brother William McLachlin Mustard served with the Canadian Military during WWI.  

***Dr. Shepley’s brother Dr. John Melville Mustard served with the Canadian Military during WWI and after the war he graduated M.D. from The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 1924.  Dr. John M. Mustard served with the United States Military during WWII.  He died in 1968 and he was buried in Pennsylvania.

****Dr. Shepley’s husband Dr. Ledson Joseph Shepley, also appears on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.