Senator Raymond (Ray) C. Shaffer passed away Saturday, October 31, 2009, in Imperial Beach, Calif. Ray was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in 1932. He was 76 years old.
After Ray attended Youngstown College in Pa., he joined the Marine Corps. He was a sergeant serving in the Korean War and was a life member of the Disabled American War Veterans.
He retired as the building director of the city of North Las Vegas In 1989. He served on the Western States Water Policy Committee. He was active in the North Las Vegas Host Lions Club, being named the Lion of the year in 1996. He was also a member of the North Las Vegas Township Democratic Club.
Raymond was elected to the Nevada State Legislature in 1984, serving 20 years. He
was dedicated to the people of the state of Nevada. He was devoted to getting bills passed for education, renewable energy, water issues, veterans rights and senior issues. It was befitting that he passed away on Nevada Day being the statesman that he was. Although he was always true to Nevada, he spent vacation time in Coronado, Calif. He was a member in good standing at the Coronado Yacht Club.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon, who was active with him in his political career and was by his side throughout his long illness. They were married 32 years on October 16, 2009.
Also survived by Raymond are his children, Thomas J. Shaffer, Robin King and Cindy Sipple of Buck Township, Pa., James R. Shaffer, North Las Vegas, and Diane Shaffer, Imperial Beach, Calif.; brothers, Frederick Shaffer, Robert Shaffer, Lawrence Shaffer, William Shaffer and Jerry Shaffer; sisters, Mary Cerami and Ruth Hughes; eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. All will miss him, especially his sense of humor.
Ray fought an illness that not many are aware of called Lewy Body Dementia. He has donated his body to the Medical Education and Research Institute of Nevada in Henderson, Nevada. Please find more about this disease at lewybodydementia.org.
He will be buried at 1:20 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14 in the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City, with military honors. The phone number for directions is 702-486-5920. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Ray's name at LBDS, 912 Killian Hill Road, SW, Suite 202C, Atlanta, GA 30047