Shafer, Amanda Fike (1870-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 3 Sep 1953 p. 9, 10

Birth date: 1870 Oct 2

text of obituary:

MRS. AMANDA FIKE SHAFER

My dear companion and our mother, Amanda Fike Shafer, was born on October 2, 1870, in Wayne county, Ohio, and departed from this life on August 10, 1953, at the age of 82 years, 10 months, and eight days. Death was caused by an acute intestinal obstruction.

At the age of 12 years, she with her parents moved to Jasper county, Missouri, where they resided for 20 years, after which they moved to Oklahoma, and in 1938 to McPherson county, Kansas, where she lived the rest of her life.

On August 25, 1903, she was united in marriage to Henry Shafer, sharing joys and sorrows for nearly fifty years. To this union four children were born, three daughters and one son.

Her early Christian training and memories of sermons preached by her Uncle John Holdeman had kept her from venturing too into worldliness and other sin. During the year 1922 she again received strong convictions to yield her life to the Lord, and after a definite experience with her Lord she was baptized, upon the confession of her faith, into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, by Minister Hiram Mininger, remaining faithful unto her end.

Mother was unshaken in the faith of our fathers, always admonishing us to Christian simplicity and sincerity, setting before us a real example of Christian living which will long be remembered. She was a kind and loving mother, not only to her own children but to those around her, to neighbors and friends, as well as taking a deep individual interest in her grandchildren.

Her health had always been quite good until a few years ago, when her walking became very difficult. Since then she had not been able to attend regularly the church services which she enjoyed so much. She was a great help to us as a family in spiritual things, a strong believer in prayer, but she had never realized so great a power and blessing in prayer as she did while in the hospital, to which she was taken four weeks ago. There she became completely resigned to the will of God and bore her suffering very- patiently. She told us not to worry about her, for her way was clear and that she was going to a better home. She passed away quietly and peacefully at 7:13 Monday evening, and we feel assured with her of her eternal reward at her Saviour’s right hand.

She leaves to mourn her departure her sorrowing companion; one son, George; two daughters, Mrs. Vada Johnson, and Georgeirene, Mrs. Alvin Becker; one son-in-law; one daughter-in-law; 14 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two sisters, Emma, Mrs. Sanford Linn, Fairview, Oklahoma, and Saba, Mrs. R. F. Ranson, Norman, Oklahoma; two brothers, A. F. Fike, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and .V. A. Fike, Dover, Oklahoma.

One infant daughter, one son-in-law (minister Jesse Johnson), and one granddaughter preceded her in death. — Father and Children.