SHAFFER, Sharon Lee

Modesto (CA) Bee Saturday, December 11, 2010 Sharon Lee Shaffer, 65, passed away peacefully in her home in Modesto, Ca on Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010. Sharon was born on March 27th, 1945 in Columbus, Ohio to the late Kenneth and Julia Dawley. As a young girl she moved to California where she married at the age of 17 and relocated to Arizona where she began her family and her work in convalescent care. She returned to Ohio in her late 20's where she remarried and eventually returned to California. She continued to work in the nursing field and remarried for a third and final time. She moved to the Modesto area in 1987 and was employed with Dan Gamel's RV Center for a number of years until becoming an in-home caregiver for the elderly until her retirement in 2005. Sharon enjoyed bingo, dancing and traveling. She was fiercely independent and had recently renewed her love of camping and meeting new friends. She had spent most of this past summer and fall camping at Woodward Reservoir in Oakdale with her devoted Maltipoo, Kobe. She was a grateful breast cancer survivor and a humble member of Alcoholics Anonymous. She would have celebrated her 20th anniversary of sobriety in December. Her greatest passion was helping others in need during her years in AA. She touched the lives of many and will be remembered for her honesty, sage advice, and commitment to the program, always reminding others to "pass it on." She is survived by two of her three husbands, Ronald Jaksch of Black Canyon City, AZ and Fred Shaffer of Modesto, Ca. She was preceded in death by her second husband, James Shannon. She is also survived by her brother Brian Dawley of Capay, Ca and her sister Karen Sue Wood of Thousand Oaks, Ca. She is survived by her four sons, Kenneth Jaksch of Black Canyon City, AZ, David Shaffer of Sacramento, Ca, Richard Jaksch of Modesto, CA and Steven Shaffer of Salida, Ca. She was preceded in death by her son, James Shannon Jr. She is also survived by her four daughters, Mary Angel Jaksch of Waterford, Ca, Marny Shaffer of Jackson, Ca, Leyla Shaffer of Salida, Ca and Tamara Shannon of Salida, Ca. She will also be dearly missed by her 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, and especially her puppy, Kobe. A private family memorial will be held at a later date. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be made to The Susan G Komen Foundation http://ww5.komen.org/donate/donate.html. Guest book available online at www.modbee.com/obituaries hughsonlakewood.com