Virginia Valentine Shafer

Virginia Valentine Shafer, 91, of Smithville, MO passed away Monday, April 13, 2015.

She was born on February 14, 1924 to Orvel and Daisy O. (Bywaters) Shafer in Edgerton, MO where she grew up. In 1942 she graduated from Edgerton High School where she lettered in Basketball. Ginny moved to St. Joseph, MO in 1955 where she lived in worked until 1994 when she moved to Smithville to be closer to family.

Ginny worked for Miller Casket Company as a seamstress for twenty seven years and the Colony House for two years, retiring in 1985. She was a very creative person. She loved to write short stories and poetry and had a poem published. Ginny entered many different contests hoping to make it big and she used her metal detector hoping to find lots of treasures. She was an accomplished carpenter building and refinishing more things than there is room to list. It was a hobby she pursued until her fading eyesight prevented her from working. Ginny later took up beading craft just to keep her busy. Other than friends and family she loved her pets Penny and Molly.

She was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother David Shafer; brothers Elmer Lee, Marion, Eugene “Peanie” and W. Dale; sister Kathleen Dodson; and her companion of over 30 years, Jessie Mae Holman.

If Ginnyâ??s hopes are fulfilled she is with her beloved pet dogs Penny and Molly and all her talking birds named Charlie.

Ginny is survived by nephews, Gary (Luanne) Dodson and Darrel (Dickie) Shafer; nieces Geraldine (Joseph) Swafford, Sherrie (Dwaine) Homan, Connie (John) Mosley, Robin (Bryan) Shafer, Christina (Don) Shafer-Jonas and Michelle Shafer-Mills; other relatives and many friends.

Graveside Services and Burial: 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 16th at Ridgley Cemetery.

Visitation: 7:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 15th at Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Smithville.