Barbara Jean Shaffer

Barbara Shaffer passed away on November 11, 2014, at her daughter’s home in Eagle, Colorado, after a brave 29 year battle with cancer. Barbara was an incredibly strong woman who faced her disease with strength and grace. She was 77 years old.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 on Saturday, November 22, 2014, at Olinger Crown Hill Chapel of Peace, 7777 W. 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO.

Barbara was born on January 19, 1937, in a farmhouse in Weld County, close to Greeley, Colorado, to David and Lillian Schwartz. She grew up in a farming family, living in multiple towns in Weld County. She spent much of her childhood working in the fields. She graduated in 1955 from Eaton High School. From there she moved to downtown Denver to attend Parks Business School. While attending school, she worked for Mountain Bell as an elevator operator where she met Darryl Shaffer, her husband of 58 years. They were married on April 21, 1956. Her husband worked for Western Electric Company, installing equipment for new telephone offices, so they traveled to multiple states following his work for 4 years. They purchased their first home in Arvada, Colorado, in 1960, where she lived until the last few months of her life. Barbara worked as a bookkeeper for J C Penny until their only child, Debbie, was born in 1963. After that she was a very dedicated homemaker, wife and mother.

Barbara was very talented at sewing, knitting, embroidery, needlepoint, and especially crocheting. She had a life long love for reading, and history. She also enjoyed gardening and baking. As a family, they did a lot of camping, both at lakes and in the mountains. They purchased a cabin in Lake George in 1983, which kept them busy for years as they remodeled and worked on the property. After her husband retired in 1986, they did a lot of traveling in their motor home and spent extended periods of time at their cabin.

Barbara is survived by her Daughter, Debbie Keenan and her husband Mark of Eagle; and two Grandsons, Colter Keenan of Eagle, and Trevor Keenan of Gunnison. She is also survived by her Brother, Larry (Ruth) Schwartz of Lead, South Dakota; Nephew, Randal (Susan) Schwartz, of Aberdeen, South Dakota; Niece, Michelle (Dave) Cook, of Oshkosh, Nebraska; and her two sweet dogs, Bear and Shasta.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Darryl, and her parents.

Following the service, please join the family for a reception to be held at Crown Hill's Reception Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either the Dumb Friends League, or the Make-A-Wish Foundation Colorado.