Mass. Marine Jessica Shepherd, 31, Loses Battle With Cancer

September 4, 2011 7:10 PM

Jessica Shelherd with her husband Marine Staff Sgt. Brandon Shepherd and son Keegan (credit: Shepherd family)

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BOSTON (CBS) – A Marine who was flown to Boston to treat esophageal cancer late last year has lost her battle with the rare disease.

Jessica Colleen (Buckley) Shepherd died Saturday at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in Boston. She was 31.

Shepherd was a Marine sergeant who served from 2003 to 2008, including two tours of duty in Iraq. She graduated from Lexington High School in 1998 and later graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern University in 2002. She later got her Master’s degree from Webster University before enlisting with the Marines.

Mass. Marine Jessica Shepherd, 31, Loses Battle With Cancer

Jessica Shepherd (credit: Shepherd family)

Thanks to a donation, Shepherd was flown to Boston from her home in North Carolina for treatment last December.

Donate: Jessica Shepherd Fund | On Facebook

Shepherd leaves behind her husband, Staff Sgt. Brandon Shepherd, and son Keegan, who was born in July 2010. She also leaves behind parents Edward and Diana Buckley and sister Danielle Santos.

A service will be held at St. Brigid’s Church in Lexington on Wednesday, Sept. 7.

karen s

thank you sgt jessica shepherd for your service to your country, and sacrifices above & beyond the call of duty. mission long since accomplished. rest in peace, we are all the poorer for your loss. may keegan grow up to be a fine young man.