Helen J. Schafer

Helen J. Schafer died at the age of 90 on April 15 at Hospice House in Spokane after a short illness.

She was born on June 15, 1922, to Henry and Adelaide Curtin Willson in Everett, Wash. She graduated from Everett High School, and attended business school and Washington State College.

She met and married Ralph G. Schafer in 1943. They moved to the family farm in Ritzville, where she was active in Zion Congregational Church, Past Noble Grands and Grange.

She was known for her Irish heritage, card playing sharpness, avid reading, love of movies, passion for travel, her “green thumb” and love of flowers, excellent sewing skills, and wonderful meals.

After moving to Liberty Lake, she volunteered at Valley General Hospital. She moved to Issaquah after Ralph’s death, then back to Spokane in 2010.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Adelaide; husband, Ralph; daughter, Marcia; and brothers, Edward, Gerald, and Henry Willson.

She is survived by her son, Larry (Sherie) Schafer of Ritzville; son-in-law, James Schafer of Kirkland; grandchildren, Jennifer (Marty) Lux of Nezperce, Idaho, Derek (Susan) Schafer of Ritzville, and Joel (Rachel) Schafer of Truckee, Calif .; step-granddaughter, Christine Schafer of Bend, Ore .; and 11 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 22, at Zion Philadelphia United Church of Christ in Ritzville, followed by a catered lunch.

Memorials are suggested to Zion Philadelphia UCC, 301 E. Broadway Avenue, Ritzville, WA 99169 or Hospice of Spokane, P. O. Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210-2215.