Karen Ann Shafer died peacefully on March 17, 2026 in Lincoln City, Oregon after a long, valiantly-fought battle with cancer. She was 82 when she left her earthly body and moved to her eternal home with Jesus.
Karen was born in Chicago, Illinois to her parents Glenn and Helen Henderson. She had two older siblings, Richard and Nancy. Karen’s mom died when she was just nine years old. Her father remarried two years later to Elaine Henderson, and they moved to the mountains outside of Boulder, Colorado. Growing up, Karen had a very special relationship with her father; Karen described him as the “personification of love” and he lovingly called her “Pal.” She also was a lover of dogs and was especially fond of little Tippy.
Karen went to college at Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965 in Speech, Drama and English. In 1968 she earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Oregon in Eugene. Also in 1968, Karen obtained a faculty position in the Communications Department at Southern Oregon State College (now Southern Oregon University) in Ashland, Oregon. While there Karen received her PhD degree (1988) at University of Oregon in Rhetoric and Public Address.
During her distinguished 34-year career at SOU, Karen was a Professor of Speech Communication, teaching a variety of courses, and chaired the Department of Communications for 10+ years. She also served as a debate coach and director of forensics and filled leadership roles in many state and regional organizations. Karen was described as dedicated, forward-thinking, and optimistic. She was praised for fostering stability at SOU and for putting into practice her exemplary skills of communication and leadership. She continued at SOU as Professor Emerita after her retirement in 2002 until her death in 2026.
Karen married Joe Cadman Shafer, a fellow professor at SOU, in August 1971. During their years at SOU, Joe and Karen enjoyed gardening together on their ¾-acre farm, growing all sorts of fruit and vegetables; they also had a Golden Retriever. In retirement they built and moved to a beautiful oceanfront home just south of Lincoln City, Oregon. They continued their tradition of growing vegetables and had a monthly ritual of making fresh bread together. Karen never tired of listening to Joe’s beautiful piano music. She affectionately referred to Joe as, “my beloved.”
Karen was active in her retirement and invested herself in people and things that mattered most to her. She immediately got involved in Gleneden Beach Christian Church and poured herself into ministry there. She faithfully attended services, led prayer meetings, joyfully volunteered for many outreaches, and served on the church board. Ever the teacher, she also delivered Sunday messages when Pastor Carl was gone. She served with humility, wisdom, love and effectiveness.
Karen was interested in emergency preparedness and joined the Depoe Bay Fire District’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). As an active member of the planning team, she taught some of the CERT classes and helped develop a CERT Operating Manual and Skills Certification process. Further, Karen supported the local high school students in their Teen CERT classes, helping with their Skills Certification activities and their disaster simulation drills. She taught at the Oregon Coast Community College during retirement as well.
Karen had rich, deep and authentic friendships in every corner of her life. She was fully invested in sharing life with her neighbors, some in the daily walking group, others on the safety & preparedness committee or in the Book Club, and more. She had regular getaway adventures, camping trips and tea parties with her closest friends. She was a faithful and reliable friend and mentor to many – an encourager and a rock. She took good care of herself physically, staying active and working out at the gym.
Karen was diagnosed with cancer nearly ten years ago. She was determined to make her cancer journey benefit as many people as possible, so she participated in numerous research studies for Breast and Lung cancer patients. For many years she was a participant in the local Breast Cancer Support group, and her fellow members found her advice and guidance immensely valuable and inspirational. She will be remembered for her courage, perseverance, and strength.
Karen was a fully-devoted follower of Jesus Christ. She was a student of The Bible and was full of wisdom as a result. Karen was not only a hear-er of the word, but a do-er. She emulated Jesus’ charge to his followers on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) to be servants and show generous love without seeking reward or acknowledgment. She gave freely of her time, skills, energy, wisdom, and resources. She lived a life of kingdom purposes and her actions were bathed in God’s love. A Bible verse that she was particularly fond of was, 1 John 4:7, Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. Her unwavering dedication to Jesus was evident in the way she lived to the very end. (Ps 116: 15, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.”).
Karen is survived by her husband of 54 years, Joe Shafer, and her nephew and niece, RJ and Cathy Mulcahy. Karen’s parents and siblings all preceded her in death.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 2:00 pm at the Gleneden Beach Christian Church, 7170 Church Ave., Gleneden Beach, OR. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to Gleneden Beach Christian Church (PO Box 496, Gleneden Beach OR 97388) to help purchase new chairs for the new sanctuary. Karen would have loved this!
