Mary Ellen Shafer

Mary Ellen (Ellis) Shafer, died on October 27, 2021, at the age of 78, at the Ogden Regional Hospital, surrounded by her dear loved ones.

Mary Ellen was born on June 15, 1943 to Arthur and Mary Ellis in Sioux City, Iowa.

She graduated from the East High School of Sioux City in May 1961, and later graduated from the University of Iowa (Go Hawkeyes!) in June 1966.

She met the man of her life during her Junior year of college, Robert (Bob) Shafer, son of Hadley and Gladys Shafer of Lake Park, Iowa, and they were married on July 16, 1967 at the St. Thomas Syrian (Eastern) Orthodox Church of Sioux City, Iowa. From this union, two daughters were born: Michelle Ann, November 21, 1969, and Jennifer Sue, February 16, 1971. Their daughter of 16 years, Michelle, died on September 21, 1984 from a brain aneurism.  Her husband, Bob was a commissioned officer in the US Air Force and they spent 20 years traveling to numerous assignments, eventually settling in West Point, UT where they have lived to the present day.

On April 1, 2010, Mary Ellen and Bob were received into the Catholic Church, at St. Mary Catholic Church, West Haven, UT, with their marriage and the other Sacramental Rites of the Orthodox Church being in perfect union with the Catholic Church.

Mary Ellen received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Education from the University of Iowa in May 1966 and initially taught high school business courses in Des Moines, Iowa until she was married.  She taught in high schools wherever they were stationed, by the Air Force, until they arrived at Hill AFB 1984 where she continued teaching GED in Davis County, UT for several years.

Mary Ellen is survived by her husband, Bob Shafer; her daughter, Jennifer Sumner, and granddaughter, Katelyn Sumner.   She is also survived by her older brother, David (Louise) Ellis of Yorktown Heights, NY, and younger sister, Virginia (Dennis [D]) Michel of Story City, Iowa, and brother-in-law Marvin Schultz (Susan (Ellis) Schultz (D)) of Newcastle, Nebraska, four nieces, four nephews, and many cousins on her side of the family, and two sisters-in-law.

Mary Ellen was predeceased in death by her parents, Arthur and Mary Ellis; daughter, Michelle Shafer; sister, Susan Schultz; Brother-in-Law, Dennis Michel, and several aunts and uncles.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11AM, on Saturday, November 13th at St. Mary Catholic Church, 4050 South 3900 West, West Haven, UT.  A private family service of the Rite of Committal will be at Clearfield City Cemetery, 1050 South State St, Clearfield, UT following cremation.

Funeral services will be live-streamed and can be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of Mary Ellen's obituary page at www.lindquistmortuary.com

The immediate family of Mary Ellen salute the beautiful medical staff teams at Ogden Regional Intermediate Care Unit and subsequently the Intensive Care Unit.   The love, compassion and sincere respect for Mary Ellen and her family care-givers by this amazing staff of professionals was over the top and incomparable.  We were so Blessed to have had her under their vigilant care during her final days and hours with us.

Having suffered with Multiple Sclerosis since she was 16 we, the family, request no flowers be given. Rather, any desired gift be donated to the Multiple Sclerosis Society in memory of Mary Ellen Shafer at the following website:   https://mssociety.donordrive.com/campaign/Memorial-for-Mary-Ellen-Shafer

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