Ray D. Shaffer; 1926-2024

Ray D. Shaffer, 97, passed away on July 30 in Bruneau, ID. Ray was born Nov. 14, 1926, in Hopwood, PA. He was one of eight children, having three brothers and four sisters. His eight-grade education and dedicated work ethic carried him into many business ventures. He signed up for the U.S. Navy the day before his 18th birthday and proudly served two years during WWII. After getting out of the service he married the love of his life, Carol Critchfield, and they settled in Pennsylvania for a short time. 

Ray realized to provide for a family he needed to leave and work on civilian construction projects in other countries. He went to Vietnam and Greenland while Carol stayed home, but she did accompany him to Iceland. Later, they moved to Washington with Carol’s parents and started a mobile home trailer park in Parkland. After Sherry was born, he went to Afghanistan and Cambodia. He operated heavy equipment and worked on road construction in these countries. 

Once he had enough money saved, he stayed home and started working for himself. First, starter houses and then larger projects, the Diamond and Palisade Apartments. They managed and lived in one of the apartments. Carol was always by his side supporting him with his next adventure. He built and operated Tacoma Truss Systems for many years. He had many real estate projects in the Spanaway and Parkland area. The purchase of Tacoma Livestock Market started him in the cattle business. 

When Sherry and Guy got married and moved to Idaho they started purchasing registered Hereford cattle at sales throughout the U.S. His support in starting Colyer Herefords was part of the foundation it is today. He thoroughly enjoyed attending cattle shows but mostly in Reno and Denver. The people that he met at these events became lifelong friends. 

After Carol passed in 1990, he followed the sun and warm weather he so loved. We teased him that he was solar powered! Ray settled in La Quinta, CA, and loved playing golf. But what he probably loved more was baking chocolate chip cookies and sharing with the people at the courses. He quickly became known as the “cookie guy” and was a favorite of the bag boys, starters, gift shop girls and anyone that ate his cookies. He would purchase flour in 25-pound bags! Ray was able to live a life we all aspire to. 

He worked hard in his early years and was able to enjoy the “golden years.” Keeping his independence, he was able to live at his home and drive until he was almost 97. He joined Sherry and Guy in Bruneau, ID, last fall and enjoyed ranch life, but not the winter weather. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, and all his siblings and their spouses. He is survived by his daughter, Sherry, (Guy) Colyer; grandchildren, Kyle Colyer, Katie Colyer (Tige Skaar); and great- grandchildren, Piper and Cruz Colyer. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bruneau Quick Response Unit, PO Box 294. Bruneau, ID.