Mary Louise Shafer

Mary Louise Miller was born in Pettis County, Missouri, on March 17, 1930, the third of four children given by God to Henry "Elmer" and Anna "Emma" (nee Tschorn) Miller. The family had a dairy farm outside Sedalia. Newborn Mary was born again in the saving grace of Christ through the water and by the Word of Holy Baptism at a rural Lutheran church near Sedalia. As a teenager, she was also confirmed in Christ's Word and her faith in one of these congregations.

At some point in her childhood, Mary's parents sold the farm. They moved to or near California, Missouri, and then (either before or after Mary went to college) to Dallas, Texas. Mary played the saxophone in the high school band and was very involved in the Walther League (youth auxiliary of the national church body). After high school, Mary attended St. John's College in Winfield, Kansas, staying in touch with at least one classmate into her 90s. At some point and place (undetermined by the family) after graduation, Mary was a teacher in a Lutheran school.

At St. John's, Mary met Milton "Pat" Bolton, a pre-seminary student and member of a popular vocal quartet. Christ brought the two lives of Pat and Mary together in holy matrimony on January 26, 1952. (Mary's sister, Arlene, married another member of the quartet!) The union of Pat and mary was blessed by God with the gift of five children (in eight years!). Pat and Mary lived in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Indiana during his ministry as a pastor in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

While serving St. John Lutheran Church in Vincennes, Indiana, Mary's husband was called to glory suddenly in 1965. After his death, she moved to DeSoto (Dallas), Texas, to be near her brother Don as she raised her children. Her five children grew up with their three cousins in almost a "blended family" of eight kids... and the stories they tell of their childhood together are amazing! The families were active members of Grace Lutheran Church in Dallas, where the cousins attended school together.

On October 21, 1974, Mary married Robert (Bob) Shafer, a longtime family friend from Indiana whose first wife has passed to glory. Mary returned to the Columbus area to live with Bob, and they were married for twenty-five years before he was called to glory in 2001. She always considered Bob's four children and all his grandchildren as her own, remembering with cards each years their many birthdays along with the birthdays of her own growing family. Bob and Mary were active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Columbus. During Bob's retirement, the couple was able to visit New York, California, and Hawaii. After Bob's death, Mary returned to live in Keller (Fort Worth), Texas, to be near her children. She took a trip with her son's family to Germany in 2009.

Mary loved crocheting and knitting. Even while her children were in the home, she created (and sold!) flower arrangements with homemade candles. In her later years, Mary enjoyed her rose and flower garden in her home, and her small dogs, Brady and Missy. Everyone who played Euchre with her knew her as extremely competitive at the card table.

Until she could no longer drive (and even afterward), Mary worshipped weekly and communed regularly at Messiah Lutheran church in Keller. In previous congregations, Mary taught Sunday School and sang in choirs. With her son in recent years, her church membership was transferred to Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church in Haslet and, until recent months, she received Holy Communion each month in the group home in Keller where she last resided. Her pastor visited her regularly, sharing Christ's savings Word, especially in Mary's last days with us.

At that home in Keller, Mary Shafer was called to glory in the morning of January 1, 2026, blessed with seeing not only the first day of an earthly year, but also the eternal Day before the Throne. She was ninety-five. He two brothers and sister, along with two of Bob's children, preceded Mary to heaven. Still walking by faith and awaiting reunion in the resurrection are Mary's five children and their spouses, fifteen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, Bob's son and daughter, thirteen grandchildren, and twenty-eight great-grandchildren, her sister-in-law and sons raised with her children, many nephews and nieces in her sister's large family, and countless brothers and sisters in Christ.

"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life!"

(Revelation 2:10)

Memorial offerings in the name of Mary Shafer may be shared with:

St. John's College Alumni Association, PO Box 376, Winfield, KS 67156-0376

A visitation will be held on January 13, 2026, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at Laurel Land Funeral Home, located at 6300 South R.L., Dallas, TX 75232.

The funeral service will follow on the same day from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the same location.

The committal will take place on January 13, 2026, from 11:00 am to 11:30 am at Laurel Land Mem Park - Dallas, located at 6300 S. R.L. Thornton Frwy., Dallas, TX 75232.