header 1
header 2
header 3

In Memory

Rita Swayne (Shaffer) - Class Of 1970 VIEW PROFILE

Rita Ann Shaffer

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

 

(Photo)
Rita Ann Shaffer

 

May 17, 1952 - Aug. 30, 2013

TRENTON, Nebraska -- Rita Ann Shaffer passed away Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, at Community Hospital in McCook. She was 61 years old.

Rita was born on May 17, 1952, on the family farm in Frontier County to parents, Glen E. and Helen (Halley) Swayne. She was baptized into the Methodist Church as an infant. She graduated from McCook High School in 1970.

On June 12, 1970, she was united in marriage to Merlin Shaffer at the Methodist Church in McCook. They made their home in Trenton where she was residing at the time of her death.

Rita was a CNA, purchasing agent, and worked in housekeeping at El Dorado Manor. She had a passion for hunting and fishing. That enthusiasm for the sport and her love of young people was apparent with her dedication and volunteerism. Rita was a Hunter Gun and Safety instructor for the Game and Parks, Bow Hunter instructor and 4-H Shooting Sports instructor for many years in several southwest Nebraska counties. Her love and interest for those young people continued as she followed them in all of their sports activities.

Other hobbies of Rita included gardening, knitting, photography and crafts. She had a fervent passion for all animals, especially her cats and dogs. She loved spending time with her family, especially her nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her father, Glen Swayne; infant twin siblings, Jack and Jaquetha; brothers-in-law, Myron Schmidt and Robert Lipska; and great-nephew, Thomas King.

Survivors include her husband, Merlin Shaffer of Trenton; her mother, Helen Swayne of McCook; two sisters, Carolyn Schmidt of McCook and Lila Lipska of Bridgeport; nephews, Bob Lipska and wife, Karla, of Palisade and Aaron Schmidt of McCook; niece, Karen and husband, Kevin King, of Persia, Iowa; and three great nieces and nephews, John and Kyle King and Izabella and Nathaniel Schmidt; numerous family and a host of friends.

Memorials may be given in her name.

Visitation is today, Sept. 3, 2013, 1-8 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook. Friends may go online at www.carpenterbreland.com to extend words of comfort to the family.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013, 10 a.m. at the Church of God in Trenton with Pastor Timothy Roberts officiating. Burial will follow in the Trenton Cemetery.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.

 



Click here to see Rita's last Profile entry.