SHAFFER, Lester Elroy

Norvel Owens Mortuary, Flagstaff, Arizona Lester & Ida Shaffer (Died November 22, 2013) Lester and Ida Jean Shaffer left their earthly family to join their Lord and Savior on November 22, 2013. Ida entered the Kingdom of Heaven nine hours before Lester, her true love of 71 years, holding hands and surrounded by family. Ida Jean was born in Gebo, Wyoming on August 25, 1924 to Walfrid Anselm and Iris Virginia Mansikka. She attended elementary schools in Gebo, Wyoming and Thermopolis, Wyoming, and graduated from high school in Lander, Wyoming. Lester Elroy Shaffer was born in Thermopolis, Wyoming on December 22, 1919, to Charles Boaz and Nancy Pearl Shaffer. He attended elementary school and graduated from high school in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Lester and Ida Jean were childhood sweethearts and were married on September 19, 1942, in Thermopolis, Wyoming, where they resided and raised their 3 daughters. In 1969, Ida Jean and Lester moved to Flagstaff where they lived for the final 44 years of their lives. Ida Jean was a homemaker and helped raise her grandchildren while their parents worked. Her love for her God was personified by the joy of introducing her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to her Jesus Christ. Lester was a rancher and was the last surviving child of the Wyoming pioneer Charles Shaffer family. When they moved to Flagstaff, Lester worked for a number of years for Ponderosa Paper as a millwright and then retired in 1985. Lester then went back to his real love of ranching and worked for Bill Well’s V7 ranch in Flagstaff until his health declined a few years ago. Both were known by many for their attendance at every school or sporting event of all of their grandchildren and great grandchildren. They were members of Greenlaw Baptist Church for the past 26 years and had made many dear friends through their church. To this day, many consider Lester and Ida Jean their family, also. Survivors include daughters Joyce (Jim), Linda (Jim) and Ginny, 6 grandchildren and their spouses, 16 great grandchildren and their spouses, and 5 great great grandchildren, brother-in-law Vern Hammond, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends. Ida Jean was preceded in death by her parents, a granddaughter Leslee Jean Hall, her sister Lily Hammond, and son-in-law Roger Carroll. Lester was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Walter, Glenn, Wallace, Renfro; sisters Beatrice, Bernice, and Mabel; granddaughter Leslee Jean Hall, and son-in-law Roger Carroll. A Celebration of Their Lives will be held on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. at Greenlaw Baptist Church, 3400 East Lockett, Flagstaff.