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Helen T. (Tainter) Shaffer

Posted 2018-01-07 by mhenderson
Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, AZ
>>> Published on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 <<<
>>> April 15, 1930 — Aug. 19, 2015 <<<

Helen T. Shaffer was born in Anaconda, Mont., to Stanton and Fern
Tainter, April 15, 1930.

From 1933 to 1941 she grew up in a mining camp in Kildun, Mexico. Her
father was a mining engineer and her mother was the only teacher.

She spent her teen years in Tucson; there she graduated from high
school and moved to Salt Lake City where she graduated with a degree
in commercial art from the University of Utah. During that time, Helen
became an accomplished pilot and rock climber.

In the 1950s, Helen worked in San Francisco for the White House
department store as an advertising art director.

Helen married Oliver Herbert Shaffer on June 9, 1956 in Salt Lake
City. Her daughter, Laura was born in 1963.

After earning her teaching certificate at University of Arizona -
Tucson, she immediately got a job as a teacher at Camp Pendleton and
bought a house in Oceanside, Calif. where she lived for 43 years. She
worked most of her teaching years at San Luis Rey Elementary School
where she was a very popular teacher.

From 1976 to the early 1980s, she wrote freelance articles for the San
Diego Union, mostly for the “Currents” section. She roamed the San
Diego area writing about camping and hiking. She also wrote many
travel articles based on her travels and had many photography
features.

After retiring, she traveled worldwide and enjoyed camping, hiking and
photography.

Helen leaves behind one daughter and son-in-law, Laura Kolding and Dan
Kolding and three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Helen requested to have no funeral service but to celebrate her life
by giving to any nature, conservation or wildlife nonprofit.

Helen was a lifelong lover of animals, nature and adventure.

Services were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and
Crematory.

Thoughts and condolences may be sent to the family at www.lietz-
frazefuneralhome.com.




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