Gary Lee Shaffer, age 59 of Waterford, died unexpectedly of natural causes at his residence in LeBoeuf Township on Thursday, September 20, 2012.
Born in Erie on July 28, 1953, Gary was one of eight children of the late Paul and Alice Geer Shaffer. He graduated from Fort LeBoeuf High School and Erie County Vocational Technical School in 1971 and went on to serve in the United States Army, stationed in Korea, until 1975.
For many years Gary worked at Gartner and Harf, and for the last several years was employed at Molded Fiberglass in Union City. He was a member of the American Legion Post 285 in Waterford, and he was a fan of the Cleveland Browns and NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace. Gary was an avid pool player and enjoyed playing in the Lakeside Tavern Pool League.
Gary is survived by his seven siblings: Robert Shaffer of Waterford, William Shaffer and his wife Jeanne of Erie, Alice Cowley of Waterford, Paul Shaffer and his wife Linda of Royal Palm Beach, FL, Joseph Shaffer and his companion Robin Horvath of Erie, Frank Shaffer and Natalie Krysiak of Erie, and Connie Stull and her husband Oakley of Waterford. Gary also has many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law Charles Cowley Sr., and his sister-in-law Denise M. Shaffer.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Funeral Home, 105 Walnut Street, Waterford on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. and may attend the funeral service there on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Rev. Ron Kennedy of Draketown Christian Church. Burial with military honors will be in Waterford Cemetery.
Gary worked for me, and with me at molded fiberglass up till last nov. when I left. I enjoyed all time I shared Gary, and all the stories he had to tell! All the the guys I worked with, Gary is one of the ones I miss being around! All and all GREAT GUY! My thoughts are with his family’s!