Norma Shaffer, a faithful and loving servant of the Lord, was born on November 18, 1937. She lived most of her life in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and was a member of First Baptist Church. The eldest of the six Hart siblings, Norma was raised with the devotion and closeness to family that she then fostered in the family she created with Bill Shaffer, the love of her life. With a weary and broken heart after the loss of Bill just eleven weeks ago, Norma passed from this life on October 4th, 2020.
At 18, she met and married Bill - her beloved husband, golf partner, and travel buddy for almost 65 years. Together they raised three daughters. Norma instilled in them that nothing was impossible and they could conquer the world. She led by example and set the bar high.
Norma valued education and earned her Bachelor’s degree about the time her youngest daughter was finishing high school. Before her first grandchild was born, Norma achieved her Masters of Educational Administration from College of the Ozarks.
As an employee of the Fort Smith Public Schools for over 30 years, Norma had an impact on many people. She was instrumental in establishing both the Fort Smith Educational Foundation and Partners in Education. The PIE program still honors her with the Norma Shaffer Award for Outstanding Partner.
Understandably, Norma was proud of her career accomplishments. But more than anything, she cherished her family. She had a deep and loving relationship with each of her five grandchildren. She could teach them life lessons and influence character while playing golf, trying on all the shoes just for the fun of it, sitting over a few cups of coffee, or instructing them on the art of making the best pecan pie ever. Her great grandkids loved their GiGi, and she loved reading to them.
To her family, she was the original Wonder Woman. She was a best friend and close confidant, a powerful prayer warrior, the champion in your corner, and the calm in the storm. If you said “I can’t” to Norma, she was going to make sure you could and did.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her parents Henry Bernard and Arngie Brewer Hart, her brothers Donald Ray Hart, and Larry Gene Hart. She is survived by her three daughters, Rochelle Loewen, Vickie Spicer and husband Dale, Renee Campbell and husband Phil, her five grandchildren, Adam Spicer and wife Chasity, Josh Loewen and wife Callie, Jason Spicer, Emily Loewen, and Colin Campbell; two great grandsons Gabriel and Ethan Spicer. She is survived by two sisters, Bernadean Inklebarger and husband Bill, and Gail Burnett, and one brother Randy Hart and wife Susan.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 8, 2020 at Edwards Funeral Chapel. There will be a private burial at the U.S. National Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith. Visitation with the family will be at 10 a.m. prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to either the Fort Smith Public Schools Foundation, , P.O. Box 1948 Fort Smith, AR 72902, or Heart of Hospice Foundation, 1401 South Waldron Road, Suite 201 Fort Smith, AR 72903.
We love you, Mom. We are comforted knowing you are in heaven praising God - and dancing with Dad.
