Charlotte (Gray) Schafer

Charlotte Schafer, nee Gray, age 83 of Park Ridge and the beloved wife of the late Derald Schafer, died peacefully on January 18th after a 40 plus year battle with MS. Charlotte was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho and grew up on the family farm in Osgood, Idaho as the oldest of 9 children. After graduating Idaho Falls High School, Charlotte attended Ricks College (now BYU Idaho) where she earned her teaching degree. Charlotte met her husband while both were student teachers in Burley, Idaho, and where both spent the majority of their lives--raising two sons and remaining consistently active and prominent as leaders in the community and schools. As a life-long “working mom,” Charlotte held various jobs within the school district, most uniquely as the long-term school bus driver for the Springdale and Unity communities and for the kindergarten program in the district.

Charlotte was gregarious and social throughout her life with the ability to form easy connections and bonds. She loved, attended, and cheered (vociferously) at all of her son’s athletic events, played bridge religiously, and held leadership positions in her fraternal organization. As a school district employee, “Mrs. Schafer” had lasting, positive impact on the lives of the young people she met.

Charlotte spent her final ten plus years in Park Ridge at the Summit of Uptown Assisted Living, where she received extraordinary care from wonderful professionals. Although afflicted with a chronic illness, Charlotte’s spunky and social mindset left a lasting positive impact on fellow residents and staff.

Charlotte is the loving mother of Lee (Laure) Schafer, the loving grandmother of Andy and Samantha, and the loving sister of Danny (Elaine) Gray, Doug (Verline) Gray, Christine (Les) Wanlass, David (Tammy) Gray, and Susan (Clint) Wheeler. She is preceded in death by her loving husband Derald, her son Bruce, her parents Laverl “Tate” and Beth Gray, and her siblings Shirley Hoffman, Darrell Gray, and Dennis Gray. Services and interment are private. In celebration of Charlotte’s life and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National MS Society Charlotte Schafer - Fundraising For National MS Society (donordrive.com).

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