Traverse City Record-Eagle

Archive: Sunday

December 9, 2012

Phyllis (Craven) Shafer

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MUNCIE — Phyllis (Craven) Shafer passed away at the age of 86 on Tuesday evening, Dec. 4, 2012, at Westminster Village. Mrs. Shafer was born on Dec. 18, 1925, in Muncie, Ind.

She graduated from Burris High School and Ball State University.

She previously served as Muncie Power's corporate secretary and vice president-administration, where she was employed for 50 years before her retirement in 2007. With the leadership of her late husband, Hamer D. Shafer, the couple grew Muncie Power Products to be a global leader in the auxiliary truck parts industry.

Mrs. Shafer was committed to her alma mater, being the first woman to be appointed to the Ball State University Foundation board and served as both the board's president and chairman of the board for 15 years. In 1978 the Ball State Alumni Association presented her with the Bennie Award for her outstanding service to the university. The Miller College of Business inducted her into the Hall of Fame in 1987. She was presented with the President's Medal of Distinction in 1990 - the third recipient of this prestigious award. In 1997 the University's Board of Trustees named the Foundation Administrative Suite in the Alumni Center in her honor. The Shafers were also honored for their numerous contributions to Ball State University with the naming of the most prominent campus landmark, the Shafer Tower, in 2000.

Mrs. Shafer was a member of First Presbyterian Church. Along with her late husband, Mrs. Shafer was also very generous with her time and talents. For over 50 years their leadership, community service and charitable endeavors have had a positive impact on the lives of every citizen in Delaware County. Mrs. Shafer provided leadership and was active in fundraising for Ball State University, the Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, United Way, Ball Memorial Hospital, the Muncie Children's Museum, Muncie Rotary Club and many other organizations and philanthropic endeavors. Mrs. Shafer's dedication to the Youth Opportunity Center is evident with the Shafer Giving Plaza located on the grounds of the Center. She was a founding board member of the Youth Opportunity Center and served for 18 years until receiving her honorary status in 2008.

Mrs. Shafer served on the board of The Ivy Tech Foundation, Ivy Tech Region VI Board of Trustees, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, Muncie Children's Museum, WIPB Public Broadcasting Station, East Central Indiana Division of Goodwill Industries, Junior Achievement of Central Indiana and Youth Opportunity Center of Delaware County. She was presented with the Sagamore of the Wabash Award by the Governor in 1986 and received the Edmund F. Ball Lifetime Achievement Award at the VIVA Awards Luncheon in 1995.

Mrs. Shafer was a member of the Governor's Task Force on Vocational Education, Governor's Committee on Youth Employment, Leadership Advisory Council for the Indiana Committee for Humanities, Altrusa Club, Ball Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Ball State University Discovery Group and Delaware County Republican Women's Club. She was also a member of the Riley-Jones Women's Club and influential in the founding of the Riley-Jones Historical Foundation.

Mr. and Mrs. Shafer enjoyed their home-away-from-home in Traverse City, making many friends in the area and enjoying their association with the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Mrs. Shafer served on the Board of Trustees at Interlochen from 1994 to 2006. In 2006 she was named an Emerita Trustee.

Survivors include her sister, Jean Davis, of Rhome, Texas; a niece, Anne Simpson (husband, Danny), of Roanoke, Texas; a nephew, Robert Davis (wife, Pam), of Rhome, Texas; several great-nieces and nephews; a great-great-niece; and special friends, Terry and Cheryl Walker, Mary Jo Crutcher and Mindy Moskaliev.

Mrs. Shafer's family would like to thank the Muncie Power Products family for their tremendous support and the staff at Westminster Village for providing wonderful, loving care of Mrs. Shafer during these past several years.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Shafer will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, at the First Presbyterian Church, 1400 West Riverside Avenue, Muncie, with the Rev. Dr. Ronald Naylor officiating. Entombment at Elm Ridge Mausoleum will be private. There will be no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Youth Opportunity Center Foundation, 3700 West Kilgore Avenue, Muncie, IN 47304; The Hamer and Phyllis Shafer Fund, c/o Ball State University Foundation, PO Box 672, Muncie, IN 47308-0672; The Hamer D. and Phyllis C. Shafer Fund or Village Foundation Fund (Westminster Village), c/o The Community Foundation, PO Box 807, Muncie, IN 47308-0807; the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, c/o Ball State University, 2000 University Avenue, Muncie, IN 47306; Ball Memorial Hospital Foundation, 2401 West University Avenue, Muncie, IN 47303-9919; or any other charity of the donor's choice.

Online condolences may be directed to www.meeksmortuary.com.

The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

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