Mary Adeline (Gilbert) Shaefer

Mary Adeline (Gilbert) Shaefer, 88, RN went to be with Jesus at home in Greensboro, IN on May 11, 2013. She was born as the youngest of eight children on September 9, 1924 to John Thomas Gilbert and Melissa (Keeton) in Golconda, IL. She graduated Missouri Baptist Nursing School in St. Louis and served as an army nurse at the end of World War II. She married Eugene “Pat” Mark Shaefer on September 3, 1949. They lived and raised their children in Whitestown, Indiana where her husband preceded her in death on November 4, 1981. Mary served in every area in the Whitestown United Methodist Church including church board chair, Sunday school teacher and United Methodist Women’s president. They had two daughters Trish Shaefer (Greensboro, IN) and Carol (Greg) Rushton (Nineveh, IN) and raised her niece Bonnie Rose Cunningham (Bainbridge, Ohio) after Mary’s sister died.  She moved to South Bend, Indiana and spent many years serving in the River Park United Methodist Church Food Pantry and other areas of the church. The last year of her life she lived in Greensboro Indiana and was an active member at the Grant City Wesleyan Methodist Church pastored by her grandson. She especially loved her Sunday school class there. She had five grandchildren: Rev. Joshua Johnson (Shirley, IN), Rev. Michael Johnson, deceased (South Bend, IN), Chloe (David) Mason (Charlotte, NC), Bryan (Courtney) Rushton (Columbus, IN), and Kasie (Steven) Williams (Nashville, IN). She had three great-grandchildren: Lily Adeline Johnson, Timothy Eugene Johnson and William David Johnson all of Shirley, IN.  Her favorite pastimes were baseball, gardening and serving her Lord Jesus through church in whatever way possible. She had a great passion for her family and was most happy when surrounded by those she loved. Her memorial service will be Wednesday, May 15th at the Grant City Wesleyan Church, 4387 S. Grant City Road, (rural) Shirley at 2PM with a dinner to follow in the church fellowship hall. Her grandson, Rev. Joshua Johnson is the Officiant for the service. Graveside interment will be at the Lincoln Memory Gardens Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Grant City Wesleyan Church. 

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