Born Dec. 6, 1940, in Indianapolis, he was the son of Homer and Ruby (Huddleston) Shaffer, both of whom predeceased him.
He was a 32nd degree Mason and of Christian faith. Sonny was a self-employed entrepreneur. Before relocating to Florida, he owned Shaffer’s Lawn and Garden on the Southside of Indianapolis. In Florida he started Shaffer and Son Trucking Co. and worked as a plant broker. Most recently he was a foreman for an estate.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 37 years, Barbara E. (Haas) Shaffer, and his brother, Robin Shaffer. He is survived and will be missed by his companion, Hannelore Smith of Stuart; son, Jeffrey A. Shaffer (Larrisa) of Jupiter; daughter, Elizabeth E. Grader (Christopher) of Cincinnati; sister Donna Ruesch (Tom) of Indianapolis; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Pastor Chip Jurskis officiated a funeral service Jan. 23 at the Dorsey-E. Earl Smith Funeral Home in Lake Worth. Entombment followed at Lake Worth Memory Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.
(Paid obituary)
BARBARA L. BROCK, 64, children, Tim Brock, Louie Kissee; six grandchildren.
JAY HUSTON CALVAN, 55, daughter, Taylor Marie; parents, Lonnie and Evelyn Calvan; siblings, Mary England, Butch and Frank Ellis, Lonnie P. Calvan; fiance, Kathy R. Lowe.
RALPH P. “SKIP” CAUDELL JR., 65, wife, Linda S. Caudell; daughter, Ashley Caudell.
WILLIAM R. COLLETT, 62, children, Ryan R. and Rachelle A. Collett, Michelle M. Massey mother, Shirley Bohannon Collett; siblings: Patricia A. Liston, Judy Cappadona, Herbert C. Collett Jr.; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
The Rev. William J. “Bill” Cutshaw, 84, wife, Helen L. Barkes; children, David J., Daniel R. and Mark C. Cutshaw, Gloria E. Liebig; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
PATRICIA A DALE, 76, brother, Jerry Dale.
LOREN “FRITZ” DAVID, 58, children, Loren, Chris and Josh David, Jason and Michelle McKinney, Rachel Coffman, April, Laura and Jennifer Brown; siblings, Jeff and Tony Gore, Larry and Luke David; Melody Graves, Barbara Bogle; 28 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; former wife, Carol David.
THOMAS J. ECKSTEIN, 78.
JAMES E. “JIM” FOLEY, 71, children, Roger and Scott Foley, Patricia Brooks; siblings, Sandy, Bill and Terry; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
BARBARA JEAN FRANTZREB, 61, husband, Clyde Frantzreb; siblings, William Fenton, Denise Riely, Karen McIntosh; stepchildren, William Frantzreb, Edith Anderson, Patricia Schmidt.
MARY ROXIE GARD, 91, widow of Daniel A. Gard; children, Suzanne M., Douglas A., Brian E. Sarah A. and Paul A. Gard, Rachel E. Hill; brother, Earl Shirar; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson.
JANICE E. GAYHEART, 70, children, William R. McDowell, Susan Schlundt; Susan Long, Barbara A. Kinsey, Mary L. Francis; eight grandchildren.
ROBERT “BOB” GREY, 84, wife Beverly Grey; children,, Diane Erwin, Guy Grey, Erica Dunse; siblings, Gloria Emery, Jerry, Jack and David Grey; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
LENA MAE GRIMES, 77, children, Nancy King, Lena M, Earl R. and Dennis C.E. Tabor; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
SANDRA KAY HALEY, 71, children, Debbie, Michelle and Kevin Haley; brothers, Charles and Dennis Mitchell; six grandchildren.
MARK DEWAYNE HARNESS, 59, widower of Deanna Sue Harness; daughter, Christian Harness; brother, Robert Meyers; three grandchildren.
NATASHIA NICOLE HOLMAN, 28, son, Asa; parents, Tinnia Holman and David A. Holman Jr.; sisters, Samantha J., Kacey R. and Nicole M. Holman; grandparents, Deborah K. and David A. Holman Sr.
CLAUDE ERNEST “DICK” HOSKINS, 66, children, Glenda M. Hoskins, Jennifer R., William V. Hoskins; siblings, Geraldine Dye, Wanda Valentine, Bernice Bullins, Bonnie Russell, Jerrie Mills; five grandchildren.
LAWRENCE CRUSE HOWE, 80, wife, Phyllis Howe; daughters, Elsa Schneider, Lorraine Roebuck, Linda Howe; siblings, Lionel, Lanny and Connie.
GWENDOLYN HUGHES, 80, sons; the Rev. Patrick C. and Daniel W. Miller, four grandchildren; special friends, Tim and Connie Bowling.
JEREMIAH KEPHART, 23, parents, Dawn Dye and Jeff Kephart; siblings, Krystal Kephart, Cadin Dye; grandparents, Mona Kephart, William Short, Linda Berta; great-grandmother, Clara Short.
NORA N. LACY, 100, widow of Marion Lacy; son, Greg Lacy; one grandson; two great-granddaughters.
MARY ELLEN MARSHALL, 89, widow of Ralph Marshall; daughter, Beverly Marshall; sister, Oneal Gregory.
ANITA SNOW MOORE, 82, widow of William R. Moore; children, Larry G. and Jon W. Moore, Mary L. Marlow, Sally A. Young, Caryn E. Stillman, Lara P. Czap; brothers, Jewett “Bud” Jr., Marvin and Reginald Snow; 25 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren.
ARYAUN LECIATERRY “LECIA” H.M. PERRY, 37, children, Zyon and Zayli Perry; mother, Alisa Williams; siblings, Michelle Peck, Chanel Perry, Saviona Williams, Aryaun Smith, Cornell Perry Jr.; grandmother, Maxine Peck.
JEANNE MARIE POWERS, 82, children, Kevin P. and John H. Powers, Mary E. “Betsy” Wilkinson, Lisa E. Helweg, Leslie J. VanHoogstraat, Jennifer A. Powers; sister, Roberta J. Frey; 17 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren.
KATHLEEN F. RALPH, 73, son, Rob Biglin; siblings, Michael, Jim and Tom Ralph, Nan Reid, Susan Dunham; one granddaughter.
SAMUEL S. RUMFORD JR., 84, wife, Thelma “T.R.” Amos; children, Vicki Walker, Gregg Rees-Rumford; three grandchildren; one great-granddaughter.
HILDA I. SCHAEFER, 92.
ERNEST “JR.” SEARS, 84, widow of Reva Sears; children; Eugene, Jenny and Mark Sears, Tina Schott, Penny Gilleland; brother, Wayne Sears; 15 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren.
MAEG W. SHACKLETON, 91, widow of Arthur Kent “Bodie” Shackleton; daughters, Melissa Dann, Maura Schuster, Suzanne Quintard; nine grandchildren.
CAROLYN S. STERNS, 71, husband, Bill A. Sterns; daughters, Jenny Lindsey, Sarah Wilkins; brothers, Leon and Joseph Armstrong; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.
LISA MARIE STIMAC, 41, daughter, Teagan; mother, Margie Owens, stepfather, Scott Owens; boyfriend, Brad Edwards.
JOAN STOCKLIN, 90, widow of Roy Stocklin; children, Becky, Mark, Debbie Lamping.
DAVID ALAN STUCK, 50, wife, Susan Stuck; father, Emmett R. Stuck Jr.; stepmother, Patricia Stuck; grandfather, Emmett R. Stuck Sr.; brother, Robert Stuck.
PATRICIA “PAT” NELSON THOMPSON, 77, widow of Bill Thompson; daughter, Rachelle “Shelly” Lovett; brother, Mike Nelson; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.
NORA ELIZABETH WHEELER, 89, widow of Kenneth G. Wheeler, children, Jane Fletcher, Kevin and Kurt Wheeler; brother, Loyd B. Nelson; five grandchildren.
MARY ROSE WILLIAMS, 87, husband, John M. Williams; daughters, Teresa Hite, Laura Brownley; sister, Susan Ringer; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
HELEN JOAN YOUNG, 85, husband, Ken Young; children, Kathy Phillips, Jay A. Young; sister, Betty Mullis; foster brother, Ben Means, nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.