Lawrence "Larry" Shafer

Larry was born on July 28, 1941, at Portland Adventist Hospital in Portland, Oregon, to Irma and Arthur Shafer. He was raised by his hardworking single mother after his parents’ divorce in 1946. His father served as a DCC in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and while his mother worked, young Larry was lovingly cared for by his grandmother.

Larry attended Multnomah School and later Benson Polytechnic High School, where he studied printing and graduated in 1959. Soon after, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in San Diego, California. He worked in the boiler room aboard the USS Arnold J Isbell, serving in the South Pacific and Japan. His enlistment ended in 1963, just six months before the U.S. occupation of Vietnam. Larry often spoke fondly of his time in the Navy and later reenlisted in the Naval Reserves in his mid-40s.

Throughout his life, Larry was known for his strong work ethic and determination. At times, he held as many as three jobs simultaneously. His career included positions with National Cash Register, as a House Call Driver (he was even featured in a 60 Minutes story), and as a sporting goods salesman at Montgomery Ward. He also worked for Fuller Brush and Watkins and owned his own business supply company. Larry eventually became a manager at Aboy Lighting and Plumbing in the Hollywood District of Northeast Portland. Even after retiring, he continued to work as a courier for ADP, proving that he was never one to sit still.

In his spare time, he loved classic cars and attended many car shows in the area.

In 1964, Larry married Jean Rosenberry, and together they raised two children, Bonnie (born in 1966) and Michael (born in 1969), in Beaverton, Oregon. The couple divorced in 1987.

Larry later married Linda Tompkins in 1990, and they lived in North Portland and Oak Grove until their divorce in 2001. In 2003, he married Connie Evans, and they shared many happy years together in Vancouver, Washington, until her passing in 2019.

Larry was preceded in death by his wife Connie, Ex-wife Linda (2015), his grandson Jeffrey (1990), and his great-granddaughter Amiria (2014).

He was the first male member of his family to live beyond the age of 80—a testament to his resilience and spirit.

Larry is survived by his ex-wife, Jean; his newly discovered half-sister, Sheryl, her children (Mary and Mike): his daughter, Bonnie; his son, Michael; his grandchildren, Kayla and Timothy; and his great-grandchildren, Alizay, Lilith, and Theodore.

Larry will be remembered for his warmth, humor, and hardworking nature—a man who loved his family deeply and lived life on his own terms.

Flowers or donations to American Heart Association in the name of Lawrence A. Shafer, are gladly accepted.