Madie Ann Shaffer Obituary (1914

Madie Ann (Gardner) Shaffer, 99, passed away Saturday, August 3, 2013, with loved ones by her side. The daughter of Bertha May (Lowery) and Jason Everett Gardner, Madie was born June 11, 1914 in Texhoma, Oklahoma. Madie graduated as the Salutatorian from Texhoma High School in 1934 and furthered her education by attending and graduating from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1939. She was united in marriage to James E. Shaffer on August 1, 1942 in Johnson, Kansas. James and Madie experienced 59 years of marriage together up until James' passing in 2001. Madie had a gift for teaching and a love for educating children. She began her teaching career at Unity, a one room schoolhouse, for ten years before moving on to teach at Guymon for 28 years. She then retired in 1979 but continued to substitute for another 20 years before finally retiring once more in 1999 at the young age of 85. Mrs. Shaffer always said that she loved every minute of teaching and had such wonderful parents of her students. Her favorite choral reading for her first graders was "Going On a Bear Hunt". Students to this day still ask if she ever caught the bear. Mrs. Shaffer accomplished many things over her 99 years and was awarded the "Guymon Teacher of the Year" in 1974, the "Texas County Teacher of the Year" also in 1974, the "Pioneer Day Queen" in 2010, and the "OBU Profile in Excellence Award" in 2011. Madie was a dedicated member of the First Baptist Church of Guymon, Oklahoma, a member of the Oklahoma Retired Educators of Texas County, and a 50 year member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Teacher Sorority. Mrs. Madie Shaffer was not only a devout Christian woman, but a true gift to the students and communities of Texas County. Those that are going to miss her include her two daughters, Jane Ann Locklear and husband Charles of Hollis, OK and Cindy Williams and husband Randy of Guymon, OK; her twin sister, Sadie Blanton of Colorado Springs, CO; 4 grandchildren, Amy Doan and husband Doug of Chickasha, OK, Dr. Jay Locklear and wife Deborah of Bartlesville, OK, Michael Williams and wife Amy of Okeene, OK, Julie Hicks and husband Cory of Guymon, OK; 7 great-grandchildren, Derek Doan, Ashley Doan, Emma Locklear, Tyler Locklear, Hank Hicks, Rhett Hicks, Lincoln Williams and many other friends, relatives, and former students. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, James E. Shaffer; a sister, Lorene Bishop; and two brothers, J.E. Gardner and Cap Gardner. A Memorial and Celebration of Life service will be Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. from the First Baptist Church, 2201 N. Lelia, Guymon, Oklahoma, with Rev. Trevor Bulls officiating. Mrs. Shaffer will be laid to rest next to her husband in the Elmhurst Cemetery of Guymon, Oklahoma. Viewing will be Monday, August 5, 2013 at Henson-Novak Funeral Home from 1:00-8:00 p.m. with the family welcoming visitors from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The family has requested memorials in Madie's name be made to the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, c/o Henson-Novak Funeral Directors, Box 1306, Guymon, OK 73942.