Elizabeth ("Betty") Lane Shaffer, age 95, died on Thursday, June 3rd, 2021, surrounded by loving children and grandchildren. A dramatic thunderstorm was reverberating at the very time of her passing, suggesting a heavenly "Welcome Home". She and her husband Roy David Shaffer would have celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on June 14. Roy maintains it's easy to be married 75 years "when you marry a saint!"
They met and married at Wheaton College in Illinois, and spent most of their lives in East Africa, where Roy was born and raised and then spent his career as a medical doctor and community health activist. Betty raised their six children and, in addition, was a French teacher and Headmistress of a kindergarten. There are countless people around the world who have been treated like family by Betty and Roy. They retired to Albuquerque in 1992, following son Dan. Three of their six children now call Albuquerque home.
Betty is survived by her husband Roy and by two sons Dan Shaffer and wife Gretchen, and R. David Shaffer, Jr. and wife Debbie, and four daughters Carolyn Shaffer, Marilyn and husband Steve Simonson, Betsy and husband Todd Benson and Gini and husband John Armes; and 15 grandchildren, Jesse, Ben, Emily, Sandra, Rachel, Philip, Serena, Caleb, Arlene, Lane, Luke, Ellie, Eileen, Heidi and Lindi; and 11 great grandchildren Colin, Lianna, Paige, Jaime, Julieann, Rebekah, Otto, Ivan, Olivia, Benjamin and Noah - and a twelfth great grandchild is expected any day now.
The gathering of the clan for a farewell rendezvous this week has been a blessing. Five have come from overseas, four from out of state, and fourteen live in Albuquerque. In her final days we had some sweet hours around her bed singing the grand old hymns of the faith and songs composed by family members about the family. Being in the Lord's hands, the experience has become a benediction. Her polite, caring, appreciative, witty nature remained intact and shone through the fog of dementia. Betty is survived by her sister, Ruth Lane Smith of Washington, DC.
Betty and Roy have been members of Hope Church since 2000. A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 14 at 10am at French Funerals and Cremations on Wyoming. Should friends desire, memorial contributions made be made to the retirement home for the missionary organization Roy and Betty and Roy's parents served with in Kenya, the Africa Inland Mission, online at aimprojects.org/retirementcenter.
Published by Albuquerque Journal from Jun. 6 to Jun. 13, 2021.
