Reba Mae Shaffer
(January 7, 1936 - August 30, 2016)

Reba Mae (Braden) Shaffer was born on January 7, 1936 to Henry “Pete” Braden and Helen Reinertsen in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was a sister to Charles Braden (deceased), Betty Gardner, Sabetha, KS; , Martha Roberts (deceased), Georgia Braden (deceased), and Richard Braden (deceased).

Growing up Reba enjoyed spending time with her best friend Dorothy Higley. They enjoyed going to Saturday night dances where she met the love of her life Robert “Bob” Lee Shaffer. Robert thought she was “good looking” and made it a point to come back to Muscotah in hopes to see her again. They ended up going dancing together and to eat in Atchison. The rest was history, and they dated three months before getting married on September 1, 1951 at the courthouse in Hiawatha, KS.

She obtained a 9th grade education in Muscotah before quickly beginning a family of her own of 3 daughters and 4 sons: Denise Potterf (Delbert), Kansas City, MO; Ron Shaffer (Gerri), Atchison, KS; Jody Butner (Mike) Kearney, NE; Steve Shaffer (Debbie) Osage Beach, MO; Kimberly Lieneman (Mike Baugh) Carthage, MO; Bradley Shaffer (Cindy), Wamego, KS; and Jamie Shaffer, Horton, KS. Times were tough for the large family, but though the money would run out, their love never did.

Reba was a homemaker for her big family and also a postal employee of Mercier, KS; while Bob worked two jobs. They did what they could to provide for their children. They always wanted to make sure they had something nice to open on Christmas. Though starting her large family at the young age of 15, was rough at times, she loved her children dearly. She later became a grandmother to 22 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren whom she adored! They equally adored her as well! She was a wonderful grandmother who would make and buy gifts at Christmas, go Black Friday shopping, play games, read and tell stories, do crafts, go on walks and trips, go fishing, have sleepovers, and always checked for spiders before going to bed! (per our request). She was the hostess for most every holiday and we enjoyed the bunny cake every Easter, dying Easter eggs and Easter egg hunts, lighting fireworks on the 4th of July, family feasts at Thanksgiving, and gift exchanges every Christmas.

She is remembered mostly for her love of her family and her beautiful flowers. She had the most beautiful flowers all around the outside of her home. She enjoyed her flowers and would often take pictures of them. She also enjoyed being crafty, decorating her home (especially for holidays), being outside, and fishing. She had an infectious laughter which could be heard while having conversations at the kitchen table or on front porch. She was also independent, feisty, stubborn, and ornery which are traits she passed on to many of her children and grandchildren! She also loved God and her church, and was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church in Horton, KS. As young children Reba and her sister Martha even took it upon themselves to get baptized in the Methodist church.

On August 30, 2016, she passed away of cancer surrounded by loved ones on at the Hiawatha Hospital at the age of 80 years old. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, sisters Martha and Georgia, and beloved husband. Though she will be missed dearly, we rejoice that she is no longer in pain, and reunited with her husband just in time for their 65th wedding anniversary!

Survivors include her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Visitation will occur on Friday, September 2, 2016 from 6:30-8:00p.m. at Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary in Horton, KS.

Funeral services will also be held at the United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 3, 2016 at 10:30a.m. in Horton, KS. Burial services will follow the funeral, and be held at the Muscotah Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church and may be sent in care of the mortuary. A special message may be sent to the family at www.dishon-maple-chaney.com