Robert Eugene Shaffer was born on September 12^th, 1948, and departed this world one day shy of his 75^th birthday, September 11^th, 2023.  The first son born to Dr Harold and Evelyn Shaffer, “Bobby” as his mother called him, would grow up as a member of the unofficial State Street Gang in Nixa, Missouri, when a pile of bicycles and a buzzing streetlight were evidence of a simpler time.  In high school, Bob was known as the red headed boy with a sly smile, quick wit and an affinity for a well-placed M-80 cherry bomb.  The Navy sent Bob to the Philippines and points east.  He would tell his mother that from his ship in the South China Sea, he could send her a letter taped to the nose of a torpedo and sit it down in her back yard.  During his stent in the Navy, he got a small rose tattoo.  Hidden beneath his ever-present watchband, this ink apparently was a sign that he was once “young and foolish” and that is where that story ended.  After returning from the war, Bob would begin working for the Frisco Railroad in Springfield, MO, spending his free time riding motorcycles, picking a guitar, and dabbling in photography.  It was during his employ with the railroad that Bob met the long-legged love of his life Cheryl Anne Post.  He and Cheryl married and had 2 children Christopher Lee and Elizabeth Anne.  When the Frisco moved out of Springfield, Bob and his family moved to Keller, Texas where he would work as a computer programmer for Bell Helicopter until his retirement. Bob loved vintage horror sci-fi flicks. He and his brothers would spend afternoons watching and rewatching Poltergeist, Earth vs the Spider, Attack of The Killer Shrews, and other grainy reels. Halloween was his high holiday. For close to 3 decades, the Halloween Bash was the single most anticipated event of the year. Once, Bob fabricated a life-sized coffin bar, proving that nothing was too great a task if added to the enjoyment of the Halloween season. He was actively instilling a love for the holiday into his grandkids so the next generation will be reminded of his childlike love of all things spooky. Not overly vocal, if Bob said something, you’d better listen.  Humming-geeble, gizwhickle and other Shaffer-isms were so subtle, yet so hilarious, they live on in daily conversations. For the last year of his life, Bob suspected that pancreatic cancer might be his Achilles heel.  He spent no time fearing the inevitable, instead he enjoyed the occasional margarita previously restricted due to his diabetes, he smoked a good cigar now and then and generally embraced the fact that we all have an expiration date. A distinct matter-of-fact, peace emanated from him. He commented that he had enjoyed a grand life, and his positive attitude, well, that was the Shaffer attitude.  Always has been. Now put your fingers under your chin and wave for Bob, one last time.  Bob was preceded in death by his father and mother; loving wife, Cheryl; and brother Dr. Lynn Shaffer. Bob will be tremendously missed by his son, Christopher Lee Shaffer and wife Shila (Nixa), daughter Dr. Elizabeth Shaffer Cvetkovic and husband Deki (Nixa); and grandchildren, Avery, Brooks and Drina; brother Gary Shaffer; sister-in-law Christine Shaffer; nieces, nephews, cats and so many other friends and family who had the pleasure of knowing Bob Shaffer.

“Life was such a wheel that no man could stand upon it for long. And it always, at the end, came round to the same place again.” Stephen King – The Stand

Services will be held Monday, September 18^th, 2023 at 10 am at Greenlawn Funeral Home on Seminole in Springfield, MO.  Gravesite service will follow at Delawaretown Cemetery in Nixa, MO at noon.