Hope Elizabeth Shaffer, 15, of Oklahoma City passed into the loving arms of her Savior on Wednesday afternoon as her loving family rushed to be by her side. A celebration of Hope’s remarkable life will be held on Monday, January 20, 2020 at 3pm at Crossroads Church at 8901 S. Shields. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday at 2pm at the Mission Hill Cemetery, 3936 W Parsons Rd, Lindsborg, KS 67456. A visitation will take place on Sunday from 12-6pm at Advantage Funeral Service at 7720 S. Pennsylvania in OKC. The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 4-6pm on Sunday.
Hope was born on March 31, 2004 in Enid, OK to Nick and Charla Shaffer. She was raised in OKC and attended Shaffer Christian Academy where she excelled at her studies. She was excited and looking forward to attending college, especially after watching her best-friend/brother Nathan thrive there. There were three things that defined Hope Shaffer: her deep love for the Lord, her profound love for her family and friends, and her passionate pursuit to become a world class ballerina.
Hope’s faith was the cornerstone of her life. She had a vibrant relationship with the Lord and chose to read His Word regularly. She did her best to serve Him by serving so many around her. She was an active member of OKC Friends Church, where her parents serve as Pastors. She ran the audio/video ministry and worked with Kids in Action. Hope was a woman with strong moral convictions and a tender heart that chose to love unconditionally.
Hope loved and respected her family and being homeschooled meant she spent a lot of time with them. She had a special connection to her brother Nathan and was always so excited to see him walk through the door. She would run and jump into his arms and give him a huge hug. She relished the opportunity to make a joke at his expense and often put her witty sense of humor to work roasting him with her crafty one-liners. Hope had a wonderful relationship with her parents. She worked hard to support her dad with different church projects and they loved each other deeply. Hope was like a shadow and mini-version of her mother. If Charla was cleaning, Hope was cleaning, if Charla was cooking, Hope was helping. They did everything together and always made the most of their time with each other. She enjoyed making her famous gluten-free pecan pie for her grandpa, cooking with her grandma, and baking wonderful treats for her parents and brother. There was never a day that Hope and her parents didn't tell each other how much they were loved.
Hope’s other love was ballet. She began her career at Take a Bow studio in OKC where she danced for 8 years. She attended the Marjorie Kovich School of Ballet for a year and a half and recently joined the Norman Ballet Company. She often chose to dance to Christian music as a way to help inspire and influence her friends. Hope always dreamed of dancing in The Nutcracker and in 2019 she was able to accomplish that dream by performing in several groups as well as a solo and a duet in The Oklahoma Nutcracker. Her family was so proud and she beamed ear to ear at the curtain call. Following graduation, Hope intended to dance at Friends University or the University of Oklahoma and pursue a career in ballet with the ultimate goal of performing professionally as a ballerina and opening a ballet school where she could teach underprivileged children the art of ballet. She was so excited when she recently began teaching her first student ballerina.
Hope was a selfless and charming girl who loved making crafts, reading fantasy novels, listening to music, and playing video games. She was a talented author who wrote fascinating stories. Playing board games and card games was a favorite activity, as well as spending time with her kitty “Tiger.” She truly loved life and her beautiful smile could brighten even the darkest of days.
Hope Shaffer was a true blessing to be around. She packed more wonderful memories into her short 15 years of life than most people could pack into 100 years. She left an unmistakable mark on the lives of so many people. She was a loving daughter, a proud sister, a caring granddaughter, a dedicated follower of Christ, a gifted ballerina, and a trusted friend. She will truly be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Hope was preceded in death by 3 baby siblings and her paternal grandparents: Ira and Dorene Shaffer. Left behind to carry on her legacy of kindness and compassion are her parents: Nick and Charla Shaffer; her beloved brother Nathan Shaffer; maternal grandparents: Clifford and Carol Kirk; 5 aunts and uncles: Clark and Nicole Kirk, Bob and Connie Shaffer, Elvin and Lana Shaffer, Gary and Gail Shaffer, and Jerry and Vicki Shaffer; Cousins: Madison Kirk, Ryan Shaffer and wife Sara , Adena McCowan and husband JC, Dalton Shaffer and wife Emily, Eric Shaffer and wife Kirsten, and Kyle Shaffer and wife Catie. Second cousins: Ashlyn and Paige Shaffer, Lillie-Mae, Sadie, and Jonathan McCowan, Josie and Colton Shaffer, Audrey, Culann, and Hadley Shaffer, Callihan, and Caroline Shaffer; as well as numerous other beloved family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, Hope's family would like to honor her memory and her dreams by setting up a fund or foundation called Dancing For Eternity to provide scholarships for underprivileged children to be able to afford ballet lessons. Donations may be made payable and sent to OKC Friends Church, 320 SE 62nd Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73149 with a memo "Dancing For Eternity."
Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at advantagesouth.com
