James M. Sheppherd; Key Grip

A funeral will be held today for key grip and former world championship team roper James M. Sheppherd.

A Newhall resident, Sheppherd died Nov. 15 of a heart attack, said his wife, Pat Sheppherd. He was 48.

Born in Escondido, Calif., Sheppherd came to the Los Angeles area in the late 1950s. He started as a set builder in the entertainment industry in 1963 and later became a dolly grip and then a key grip. Sheppherd worked on dozens of motion pictures, including “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “On Golden Pond” and the second, third and fourth films in the “Rocky” series. He also worked on several television shows and on various commercials. In the mid-1980s, Sheppherd and business partner Tommy May started T. M. Motion Picture Equipment Rental. Sheppherd worked as a key grip until the time of his death.

Sheppherd was named world championship team roper by the International Rodeo Assn. in 1971 and won numerous others awards for calf roping. From 1974 to 1984, he and his wife had a cattle ranch in Anderson, Calif. He suffered his heart attack after roping at a friend’s house, his wife said.

In addition to his wife of 26 years, Sheppherd is survived by a brother, Hank Sheppherd of Shadow Hills; and a sister, Joan Hanan of Dana Point, Calif.

A funeral, with burial to follow, is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Chapel of the Oaks at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, 23287 N. Sierra Highway, in Newhall. Eternal Valley Mortuary is handling the arrangements.