M. Frances Shafer

Mrs. M. Frances Shafer, 87 of Knoxville, Maryland passed away on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at Northampton Manor Nursing Home. She was the wife of the late John Atlee Shafer, Sr. who died February 13, 2004. They were married November 17, 1941.

Born June 29, 1921 near Urbana she was the daughter of the late James Wesley and Martha S. (Brandenburg) Geisler.

Mrs. Shafer was a life long homemaker and had a great love for her family. She dairy farmed with her son and her late husband and was a member of the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Association for 50 plus years. She was also a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Burkittsville.

Surviving are her two children, Patricia S. Lancaster and husband Dan and John A. Shafer, Jr. and wife Jane three grandchildren, Shawn K. Lancaster and wife Tracey, M. Wesley Shafer and Laura K. Moxley and husband Brent, great grandchildren, Christopher and Devin Lancaster, one sister, Emma S. Biser of Jefferson and one brother, Edwin B. Geisler and wife Barbara of Vienna, VA, three sister-in-laws, Anna Lee Geisler of Middletown, Almeda Geisler of Mt. Airy and Jeannette Giles of Grovetown, GA. She is also survived my numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mrs. Shafer was preceded in death by three brothers, James Atlee Geisler, Richard T. Geisler and William W. Geisler, two brother-in-laws, Richard C. Biser and Edward C. Wilcom, two sisters, Elizabeth Bess Wilcom and Mary Lucille Geisler. She was also predeceased by her eldest grandchild, Capt. Jennifer S. Odom, US Army in 1999 and a nephew, Gregory Wilcom.

Visitation: The family will receive friends at the Stauffer Funeral Home, 1100 North Maple Ave., Brunswick on Thursday, November 20 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.

Services: Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Friday, November 21 at 11:00AM with Rev. Kimberly Nunberg officiating.

Interment will be in St. Mark's Cemetery, Petersville.

Serving as pallbearers will be Shawn K. Lancaster, Millard Wesley Shafer, Gary Rhoe, Alan Masser, Brent Moxley, Brian Cooper and Richard T. Geisler, Jr.

In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St.Paul's Lutheran Church, 5 East Main Street, Burkittsville, Maryland 21718.