Mary Evalyn Shafer

Mary Evalyn Shafer, age 86, passed away January 22, 2011 at Good Samaritan Society-Van Buren, in Keosauqua, Iowa.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 27, 2011 at First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Mike Metz officiating. Burial will be in Bethesda Cemetery, east of Fairfield.

Visitation for family and friends will be Wednesday, January 26, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Behner Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, Senior Citizen's Center of Fairfield, Bonnifield Cabin, Carnegie Historical Museum or Maasdam Barns Restoration Committee. Cards and Memorials can be sent to 2369 270th Street Birmingham, Iowa 52535.

Mary Evalyn was born November 28, 1924 to William J. and Edna Ulm Summers in Fairfield, Iowa.

She graduated from Fairfield High School with the class of 1943, attended Parson's College and taught for 5 years in Jefferson County rural schools.

On September 26, 1948 she was united in marriage to R. Keith Shafer at the Pleasant Grove Methodist Church north of Fairfield, where she was a lifelong member, until its closing. They engaged in farming and became the parents of 4 sons.

She prided herself as a wife, mother and a community volunteer. She was an active member of Fairfield's First United Methodist Church, Jefferson County Farm Bureau Women, Jefferson County Republican Central Committee and the Jefferson County Rural Water District.

Mary Evalyn is survived by her husband of 62 years: Keith, 4 sons: Mark & Susan Shafer of Fairfield, Herb & Jan Shafer of Mt. Pleasant, Lynn Shafer & Leslie Brown of New Gloucester, Maine and Allen & Alison Shafer of Des Moines, 6 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.