Roy Shafer

CHARLESTON, IL – Roy Shafer, age 83 of Charleston, went to his heavenly home on Thursday, September 6, 2012 while at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.  Visitation for family and friends will be held Wednesday, September 12, 2012 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston.  Services honoring and celebrating his life will begin at 2:00 p.m. immediately following the visitation with Pastor John Best officiating.  A Private Family Inurnment will be held later at Liberty Cemetery located in Hutton Township southeast of Charleston.   It is requested that memorial gifts in his honor be made to his wife, Betty Shafer.  Gifts may be left on the memorial table at the visitation or service, or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920. 

Roy was born on June 6, 1929 in Coles County, Illinois a son of the late Martin and Lula (Lang) Shafer.  He met the love of his life, Betty Rush in the fall of 1961, and a few months later on December 31 of that year, they were married – a marriage and friendship that has lasted fifty years.  In addition to Betty he is survived by their son, Chris Shafer of Charleston; a brother, Bill Shafer and wife Ruby of Charleston; and several nieces and nephews and their families including Judy Neal and her husband Michael who has been such a help to Roy and Betty.  In addition to his parents, Roy was preceded by three brothers, Denzil Shafer, Junior Shafer and Ray Shafer; and a sister, Polly Monier. 

Roy was employed by the Charleston School District as a Custodian and later with Illinois Consolidated Telephone Company where he worked in their maintenance department – a position he held for over twenty-five years before retiring in 1984. He was also a faithful member of the Charleston Bible Church and a member of the Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association. 

Roy was an avid fisherman and enjoyed tending his vegetable garden every summer so that he would have fresh produce to share with family, friends and neighbors.  It seemed he always had to be busy doing something and did not shy away from a hard day's work.  When visiting Roy and Betty's home they made you feel welcome and comfortable – that "their home was your home".  Roy made certain that you never left with an empty stomach and when he said "don't be bashful" he meant it.  He enjoyed cooking Sunday dinners and you could rely on there always being cake for dessert – and not just on Sunday.  Roy knew the importance of one's family and nurturing those relationships which kept them close.  He possessed gentleness, accompanied by a warm smile, which was usually followed by some sort of light hearted teasing – he thought it important that others smile along with him. He enjoyed a good card game and would often call on family members to drop everything and join him in a game of Continental Gin.  He was a devoted husband to Betty; an excellent father and role model for Chris; a wonderful brother and a loving uncle to all his nieces and nephews.  Roy's memory will always be a treasure to those who knew and loved him.