Marsha Faye Ashton Shaffer

1949 - 2017

ODESSA - Marsha Faye Ashton Shaffer was brought into this world on October 27, 1949 at St Anthony's Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana by her mother Jennie Little Ashton and her father Robert Earl Ashton. She was welcomed into a growing family by her older siblings and would in turn welcome and dearly love her younger brothers and sisters as they arrived into her life.

As a little girl, Marsha came to Texas with her family. As she was such a bright young girl, she was advanced a grade ahead of her peers upon arrival here. Throughout her schooling career, she continually delighted and impressed her teachers with her quick and warm intelligence.

She was a sweet youngster growing into a young lady in 1960's Odessa, Texas. Marsha was ever the keeper, protector and mother hen of her younger siblings. But between schooling, her wild and unruly siblings and later her job - she always made room for those she met through her church. Though the church family led by Brother W.I. Lee was large and loved her, there were two souls most dear to her. Jim and Juanita Calloway helped to plant her love of God and nurtured her lifelong commitment to her faith in His mercy and love.

In 1967 she graduated from Odessa High School, where she not only excelled academically but she also won various awards for her athletic abilities. She was a natural at almost everything she decided she wanted to undertake.

Soon after high school, Marsha met Charles Richard Shaffer. They married in March 1968 and started on a journey that would take them around the world and back again. Never one to let fear of the unknown stand in her way, she followed her heart first to Maryland while Charles completed his initial Army post. Next they were off to Okinawa Japan, where she welcomed the two little souls who would become the absolute center of her universe. Charles Richard Shaffer, Jr was born on May 15, 1969 soon after, on October 29, 1970 Michelle Ann Shaffer was born. Marsha would brave life as an army wife and mother through many travails across two continents. She went to work to help support her family, but she never did anything halfway so she took it upon herself to learn enough German and Turkish in order to excel at her work.

But the call of home and the wish to give her children roots was strong, so she and Charles brought their family home to West Texas. Goldsmith is where she raised her two children into the bright, strong and hard working adults they would become. She was also an asset professionally to many organizations in Odessa and was consistently a most valued employee wherever she felt her talents were most needed, from Judge Vandenberg to JMar Industries to ECISD. As if that wasn't enough, in her spare time between caring for her family and her work - she managed to self-develop her endless talents as an artist in too many mediums to list from pencil art, intricate crochet projects, and paintings to sewing. She taught herself to play the piano, to bake and cook on a level like few others and she most especially excelled in horticulture. She loved being outdoors tending to her flowers, her beautiful almost famous roses.

As her children grew and started families of their own, she was able to relax just a bit. She continued to cook for all. She served on the Goldsmith Volunteer Fire Department. She cultivated the most beautiful yard, not to mention roses in Goldsmith. Then in 1989 and 1992 respectively, the loves of her life came into her world - Austin Corey Shaffer and Zachary Alan Fortune. She could not have been happier and spent the remainder of her life showing them how very much she loved and adored them. She was ever present at any and every event in their life as they grew into two young men that she was ever proud to be their Granny.

Marsha spent her retirement at Parks Methodist Retirement Village in Odessa, Texas doing what she has always done. She helped others when they couldn't manage, she visited those who were lonely, she encouraged those who were disheartened, and she gave whatever she could to whomever needed her even when she may have been struggling herself. For it was not in her nature to complain or offer up an excuse.

Marsha Faye Shaffer could never be adequately honored in these few words above, but she was a force of nature to those of us who knew and loved her most. She was to us at times, a gentle breeze on our cheek reminding us to laugh or smile. At other times she was a hard pounding rain on our shoulders reminding us to push on regardless of what was happening around us. There were times she was a wild wind keeping us guessing but making us stronger for it. And there were times she was a cloudy day, reminding us that the sun will come again and to appreciate every day that it does. We love you Marsha.

She will be welcomed with open arms by those who have gone on before her, Grandparents, Earl William Ross Ashton and Bessie Elizabeth Long Ashton Oxenrider, Bert Little and Emora Rebecca Jane Romine Little. Her father, Robert Earl Ashton. Her beloved siblings, Roberta "Bobbie" Sue Ashton Lackey, Anna Katherine Ashton Grant, Loretta Kay Ashton Mayberry, and Timothy Carroll Ashton.

She will be forever missed by those she has left behind. Her beloved daughter Michelle Ann Shaffer Hargis. Her rock Charles Richard Shaffer, Jr and his wife Kathleen Shaffer. Her two precious grandsons Austin Corey Shaffer and Zachary Alan Fortune. Those wild and less unruly siblings, Konnie Ashton Mix, & Jill Johnston Newton of Terre Haute, Indiana, Michael Ashton and his wife Dana Durrett Ashton of Odessa, TX, Lynn Ashton Murphy and her husband Jack Murphy of Midland, TX, Roger White of San Diego, CA, Robert Ashton Jr of Plano, TX, and Beatrice Ashton Gamble, Amarillo, TX. Lastly but certainly no less in her heart were her many many nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors she loved so much.

Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 pm, Sunday, September 10, 2017 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be at 10:00 am, Monday, September 11, 2017 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Clydel Chapman officiating.

Arrangements are entrusted to Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home of Odessa. To send family condolences please sign her guestbook at www.sunsetodessa.com.