Mabel Hagen Shafer, at the age of 104, relocated to her home in Heaven on February 4, 2021 after a brief illness. Mabel was born on March 1, 1916 in Minnesota to the late Earl Hagen and Ethel Grace Hornbeck. Her family moved to central Indiana shortly after her birth where she eventually met and married the late Woodrow Clark Shafer on September 28, 1941. Woody and Mabel lived and raised their family in Hagerstown, Indiana. Mabel was known by family and friends far and wide for her generous hospitality and her wonderful cooking. Her love of guests and cooking was eclipsed only by her love of music. Mabel sang in church choir, played piano for church and for her own enjoyment, and loved to have her family sing along while she played. She was mostly self-taught on the piano and enjoyed playing favorite hymns by ear right up until she passed away. Mabel also loved birds, flowers, and gardening and could often be found outdoors caring for her yard and generally large garden. Mabel and family were members at First Baptist Church of Cambridge City, Indiana for many years until she relocated to Valdosta, Georgia in 1993, where she became a member of Grace Bible Church. While living in Valdosta, she faithfully served as a volunteer with The Mailbox Club Int’l, a Christian Bible lesson ministry to children, for nearly 20 years.
Mabel is survived by her son, Darryl Clark Shafer, of Valdosta, GA and her daughter, Cheryl Anne Shafer Raby (Charles Lynn) of Ash Flat, AR; five grandchildren, Darryl Clark Shafer II (Esther) of Pottstown, PA; Shawn Marie Shafer Ashley (Park) of Beavercreek, OH; Daniel Mark Shafer (Deborah) of Lorena, TX; Jonathan Clark Raby (Laurn) of Ash Flat, AR; and Beth Michelle Raby Himschoot (Timothy) of Ash Flat, AR; nineteen great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held on Friday March 5, 2021 at 1 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery in Cambridge City. Please do not send flowers! Memorial gifts should be made to The Mailbox Club, Inc. 404 Eager Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602 and online at www.mailboxclub.org. Note: “Mabel Shafer Memorial” in the comment line. Condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.waskoms.com.