Harold Shafer, age 79, of Summersville, Missouri, passed away on November 18, 2024, at Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains, Missouri. He was born to Kenneth and Mabel (Light) Shafer on December 21, 1944, at the family farm near Summersville.
Harold was united in marriage to Jean (Deady) Shafer on April 5, 1969, and they had one daughter, Heather (Shafer) Howell.
A graduate of Summersville High School in 1963, Harold worked alongside his father Kenneth and brother, Edward, in their tandem dump truck company, Shafer Trucking. This partnership allowed Harold to fund his college education. He graduated from Central Missouri State University in 1970 with a degree in electrical engineering. Harold then returned to the family farm, raising crops, beef cattle, and hogs until 1977, when Harold and Jean began their work as dairy herdsman, operating their herd continuously until 2016, when they transitioned back to beef cattle and hay production for the remainder of his life.
Harold had a lifelong passion for mechanics and was always immersed in a new project. His love for working on and restoring machinery brought him immense joy. In recent years he had painstakingly restored a retired semi to its original condition, installing his original dump bed to place it back in service. His passion for mechanic work only came second to his strong connections and impact on his family, and his farms.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Mabel Shafer, and his in-laws, Matthew, and Eleanor (Snodgrass) Deady.
He is survived by his wife, Jean Shafer; daughter, Heather Howell (Clark); grandson, Ethan Howell (Sarah) and great-grandson, Matthew Howell; granddaughter, Aubrey Odom (Ryan); brother, Edward Shafer (Corine); and nephews, Randy, and Daryl Shafer (wives).
A memorial gathering to honor Harold’s life will be held at the Shafer family farm residence on Saturday afternoon, November 23, 2024, at 3 p.m. Harold will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
