Mary Lou (Peterson) Schafer, 87, passed away at her daughter’s home in Apache Junction, Arizona, on October 29, 2022. She had relocated to Arizona in July after having suffered a massive stroke at her home in Fort Scott in February 2022.
Mary Lou was born on November 28, 1934, to parents Willis H. and Verna (Likely) Peterson at their home in Hiattville, the third of nine Peterson siblings. She attended Hepler schools and graduated from Hepler High School in 1952. In 1953, she married Ralph Shoemaker and they moved to Colorado in 1955, where they resided until their divorce in 1965. She then moved to Fort Scott where she met and married John (“Joe”) Schafer in 1973.
Mary Lou worked at Cullor Limestone until she married Joe. After their marriage, she and Joe formed their own business, Schafer Monuments. She attended Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church and was an active member of the St. Anne’s Altar Society. She also served on the Fort Scott Housing Authority Board in recent years. Some of her favorite activities were bowling, gardening, fishing, and spending time with her family.
She is survived by her three children, Mickey Shoemaker (David) Webb of Apache Junction, Arizona, Brenda Shoemaker (Ron) Fritts of Paola, Kansas, and Martin Shoemaker of Paola, Kansas. She is also survived by four stepchildren, Ronnie (Phyllis) Schafer of Derby, Kansas, Kevin (Debbie) Schafer of Fort Scott, Janet (Joe) Watts of Clearwater, Kansas, and Joyce (Brian) Thorpe of Aurora, Missouri. She is survived by grandchildren Nick Shoemaker and Josh Shoemaker and several step-grandchildren. A great-grandchild, Dakota Fritts. She is survived by siblings Frank Peterson, Margie Madison, Von (Susan) Peterson, Verna Mae (“Sissy”) (Jay) Mall, and sister-in-law Edith Peterson. She had many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Her great-nieces Kendall and Lauren Madison were a big part of her life through her involvement in their 4-H and other activities.
Preceding her in death were her husband Joe Schafer, parents Willis and Verna Peterson, infant sister Louise Peterson, brothers Sonny (“Harry”) Peterson, Bill Peterson, and Pat Peterson, brother-in-law William (“Bill”) Madison, and sisters-in-law Joyce Peterson and Sue Peterson. Two grandsons, Douglas Felt (son of Mickey Webb) and Kyle Fritts (son of Brenda Fritts), and niece and nephew Angela Madison Handke and Thomas Madison (children of Margie Madison).
A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 22, at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, where services are currently being held in the Kennedy Gym. A private burial will take place in Centerville Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Mary Queen of Angels Building Fund in care of Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.