Dorothy “Dot” Lanier Schafer, 87, of Raleigh died Friday afternoon, July 27, 2018. She was born on January 5, 1931 in Chinquapin, North Carolina to the late Stacy Lanier, Sr. and Norma Cavenaugh Lanier.
She was a graduate of Chinquapin High School and the James Walker School of Nursing in Wilmington, NC. Dorothy was a nurse throughout her career and retired from the Durham County Health Department in 1993. She was a member of the North Raleigh United Methodist Church.
She married Howard Sanders while in nursing school and upon his discharge from the US Marine Corps, they relocated to Centerville, Indiana where they raised three children. Dot was the school nurse where her children went to school (where she could keep a close eye on them!). After she and Howard divorced in 1972, she moved back to North Carolina to Durham where she worked as a nurse at the VA Hospital and also the Durham County Health Department. In 1993 she married Robert Schafer.
In retirement she was very active with the Wake County Republican Party and the Wake County Republican Women’s Club and received several commendations from these organizations. She contributed her time and efforts tirelessly to the Republican Party and Republican candidates for office. In 2000 she was a North Carolina alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia and in 2004 she was a North Carolina delegate to the Republican National Convention in New York City.
Dot and Bob enjoyed traveling over the years and took many trips and cruises together to explore the world. Dot also participated with Bob in his Masonic endeavors and activities throughout their marriage.
She is survived by her husband, Robert Schafer; sons Steven Sanders of Eaton, OH and Larry Sanders (and wife Dawn) of Rolesville, NC; and daughter Terri Goodbar (and husband Steve) of Durham, NC. She has two step-children, Jeff Schafer of Parker, CO and Cindy Howaniec (and husband Jim) of Brentwood, TN, and her brother Roy Lanier of Wilmington, NC. She has eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother Stacy Lanier Jr. and her first husband, Howard Sanders. She loved her family deeply.
A visitation will be held at the Brown Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E. Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC on Monday evening, July 30, from 6-8pm. A celebration of her life service will be held on Tuesday, July 31, at 2pm, with visitation immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your local Alzheimer’s Association. Donations may be made at https://www.alz.org/. Please share condolences here .
