John Clinton “Clint” Shepherd was truly one of a kind. He passed away peacefully at his home in Austin, Texas, on the morning of January 22, 2025.
A natural conversationalist and social butterfly, Clint had the gift of gab, effortlessly filling every space with laughter, warmth, and charm. His vibrant spirit touched countless lives, and his legacy of joy will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
Born in Midland, Texas, Clint’s early years took him far beyond his home state. He spent his preschool years in Tehran and London before his family settled in the Houston area, where he spent most of his childhood.
His love for French began early when he discovered his mother’s old French textbooks. By sixth grade, he was passionate about the language, and by age 12, he was translating French magazines. He made friends with French expats in Houston, which fueled his dream of attending Awty International School. Determined to make it happen, he worked multiple shifts at Dairy Queen—only to be sidelined by kidney stones and mono. He later transferred and graduated from B.F. Terry High School in Rosenberg, Texas, where he served as Senior Class President, Debate Captain, and was active in journalism. He graduated with National Honor Society honors. His family also hosted exchange students from France and Germany, further inspiring his lifelong love for European culture.
Clint majored in French at Austin College, where he joined the Tri-Gams (Gamma Gamma Gamma – ΓΓΓ) fraternity. He was part of the Outstanding Delegation at the Model United Nations competition in New York, representing Great Britain, and served as a judge for the Texas French Symposium for high school students.
He took full advantage of Austin College’s JanTerm program, immersing himself in French culture. He spent one term in Chicoutimi, Quebec, where he learned that even fluent French speakers sometimes needed subtitles for Quebecois! The rest of his JanTerms were spent in Lyon, where he studied at L’Université Lumière Lyon II. Staying with a host family, he quickly became part of their lives—and they, his. The bond they formed lasted a lifetime.
Clint continued his studies at the University of Houston, pursuing a master’s degree in French Language and Literature while working as a teaching assistant. One summer, feeling the weight of depression, he spontaneously traveled back to Lyon to visit his host family and friends.
After his studies, Clint was invited to teach English at Lycée Mariette in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. He often recalled the how obnoxious the tourists from across the channel were getting duty free liquor. He would yell at them from his apartment in Rue de Lille where he shared an apartment with life long friends.
When his French work visa expired, Clint returned to Texas and moved in with his aunt in Austin, where he began a career in the travel and leisure industry. Starting as a customer service representative for Sheraton, he quickly climbed the ranks to become a Luxury Collection Reservation Sales Manager for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. This role allowed him to travel the world, staying in some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and resorts. He later became the Director of Revenue Management at the Princeville Hotel in Kauai, Hawaii, but ultimately preferred reservations over backend operations. This led him to the Sheraton Hotel Tahiti in Papeete, French Polynesia, where he worked as a Complex Reservations Manager.
Clint eventually returned to the U.S. to pursue his dream of becoming a flight attendant, but after receiving a serious health diagnosis that later led to hospitalization, he decided to step back from full-time work. Never one to sit still, he took on part-time roles as a French tutor and as a customer service representative at various companies. He even enrolled at Austin Community College for a year to study American Sign Language.
As his mobility became more limited, Clint embraced home life, staying connected with friends and indulging in lively conversations. He still enjoyed visiting his favorite Austin bars, The Tigress and Drink.Well, and was a prolific Yelper, earning Yelp Elite Gold status. Though he could no longer travel as often, his passion for aviation never faded. A self-professed “aviation geek,” he proudly took one of British Airways’ last 747 flights to revisit London and Paris. He also explored destinations like Montreal, Savannah, Charleston, and New Orleans, and had been planning a trip aboard on an Airbus A350 back to France.
Clint is survived by his loving spouse, Edwyn Abenes; his beloved dog, Stella; his middle brother, Cason Mashburn, and family; his younger brother, David Cody Mashburn, and family; his aunt, uncle, many cousins, and nephews; his host brothers from Lyon; and countless close friends and cherished acquaintances. He was preceded in death by his mother, Juhree Mashburn; his adopted father, Mitchel Mashburn; and his beloved host parents from Lyon.
A joyful virtual memorial will be held in his honor on February 8th at 3:30 PM Central Time via Zoom. For details, visit https://facebook.com/events/s/clint-shepherds-memorial-servi/557654774095990/.
Though Clint’s journey in this world has ended, his wit, warmth, and adventurous spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of those lucky enough to have known him.
Bon voyage, Clint. Until we meet again.
