Before her passing in December 2021, Carol Shephard partnered with St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation to create the Carol Shephard Nursing Scholarship Fund, a new endowment to support the education of aspiring nurses, particularly those who intend to work at St. Luke’s Wood River. “For people who are interested in serving others, nursing is the best profession I can imagine,” Carol said during her conversations with the Foundation.

The fund is unique in Blaine County and will enable future generations of nurses to pursue their educational goals as well as support high-quality care in the Wood River Valley.

As she approached the end of life, Carol graciously took time to explain her vision and generosity in creating the fund. “I have a limited time left on earth, and I want to leave a meaningful contribution that supports those who are pursuing the nursing profession for the first time.”

Carol’s big heart and extraordinary generosity is a gift to us all. This endowment will invest in talented individuals who are called to serve our community with open hearts and hands.

Carol was inspired to create the nursing endowment fund after reading about a nurse honored by the Carl A. Gray Memorial Award Fund through St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation. Each year, the Gray award celebrates the remarkable dedication of a local nurse, while honoring the memory of an avid Sun Valley Ski Club member. Inspired by the story, Carol contacted Megan Tanous, chief development officer of the Foundation, to discuss making her own dream a reality. Interest quickly spread and many of her friends and family honored Carol by contributing and helping to develop the fund.

Nursing was always Carol’s priority. A nurse for 45 years, Carol often reflected on the rewards of the profession. “I have done a lot of things in my life, and, in my opinion, nursing is one of the most gratifying and rewarding careers,” she said. Carol believed in the importance of promoting the profession because of the essential role nurses play in maintaining a community’s well-being as well as the personal fulfillment that comes from serving others.

Carol was 3 years old when she first dreamed of becoming a nurse. She stayed true to her early calling and pursued nursing in college. While there, she also joined the Navy, which paid for her last year of nursing school. She served as a nurse in the Navy for three years in San Diego, California, before working at several hospitals during her career, including what was then the Blaine County Medical Center in Hailey in the 1980s. Along the way, Carol also earned her law degree and pilot’s license.

Carol moved away from Idaho for 19 years, then returned to her home in Hailey after she retired in 2017. She would later serve as the president of St. Luke’s Wood River Volunteer Core Board and served on both St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation Board and Community Board. “I have had an amazing life,” Carol said, “and when I think of one of my greatest accomplishments, it is this scholarship fund. I am very excited and proud of it. I’m grateful that I have the means to help a number of people.”

Carol exemplified the spirit of generosity and compassion that is central to St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation’s mission. She committed to promoting excellence in health care in our community by investing in nurses who, in turn, will help ensure the sustainability of St. Luke’s Wood River’s services for decades to come.

“I have had an amazing life, and when I think of one of my greatest accomplishments, it is this scholarship fund. I’m grateful that I have the means to help a number of people.” Carol Shephard