On May 20, 2024, Heaven gained an absolutely beautiful angel, she not only shared her faith with others, she truly lived a Godly life, and was an inspiration to all who met her.
Dottie Ruth (Shaffer) Hartman, was born in Seneca, Mo., on March 27, 1939.
She was preceded in death by her parents Everett Robinson and Gladys (Cox) Robinson, one sister Naomi Lea, and her husband of 42 years, Gilbert Shaffer. She was blessed to find love once again and was preceded in death by her husband of 10 years, Wayne Hartman. She is survived by her son Henry Shaffer of Cypress, forever daughter in law Diane Morris, their daughter Hannah Bracero-Shaffer and husband Luis (Luigi) Bracero, who very quickly became her grandson.
She is also survived by forever son in law Jeff Easthagen and wife Linda, with sons Jeffrey and Tanis of Texas. One brother Everett Eugene Robinson of California, two sisters Leila Marie of Missouri, and Margie Maxine (known as ‘the crazy redhead’) of New Mexico. As well as several nieces and nephews across the country. She loved all of her family more than life itself.
Raised in southwestern Missouri, she always had her nose in a book and loved reading under a tree. When she graduated Seneca High School in 1956, she was awarded significant recognition, honors, and medals for bookkeeping, shorthand, typing, even gaining recognition from Joplin Junior College and the University of Missouri. Her love for reading and bookkeeping continued into her adult years. She kept journals about her entire life, there were over 40 scrapbooks, some containing documents from 1890s. She even hung on to a booklet from a church camp she attended in June of 1948, when she was 9 years old.
On Oct. 13, 1956, she married Gilbert Shaffer. Their only son was born late the next year. Gilbert worked with cooling towers, so they traveled and worked in 48 states across the US, and actually lived in 47 states! During the late 1970s, they settled in Pasadena, Texas, and opened a business doing home remodeling. If you needed any repairs done to your home, no matter how big or small, as a team they could get the job done. One job took them to San Francisco, Ca., and she made Gilbert take her to the beach, just so she could take her shoes off and dip her toes in the Pacific Ocean.
After waiting 58 years to become a Grandmother, she was finally blessed with a granddaughter, Hannah Bracero-Shaffer. She was so excited to not miss a single moment, she made Gilbert move her to Conroe, Texas. She arrived the night Hannah was born and never missed a moment. She was able to take care of Hannah while her parents worked. Her bond with her family strengthened, and her love knew no limits. Gilbert passed in 1998.
She married Oris Wayne Hartman in 2000 and acquired additional family members. With Wayne she was able to complete her journey to all 50 states after traveling to Hawaii, and a cruise in Alaska, they also traveled to Mexico and Canada. She fell in love with the beauty of Niagara Falls. Wayne passed in 2010, and shortly after, she moved with her son Henry to Cypress, Texas.
She was a fighter. During her life she battled (and beat) cancer 3 times, breast, colon, and many skin cancers, yet never failed to find a way to help her family. She enjoyed fishing every chance she got. She even wrapped Henry in a blanket, strapped him to a life preserver, and placed him in the bottom of a boat when he was an infant, so she could fish while watching him. Whenever she caught a fish she would squeal loud enough for other folks to hear her across the lake.
She also loved her church, and all children. Her church home in Pasadena, Texas, was Queens Baptist. She spoke very fondly of her time there and with her husband Gilbert, helped lead both girls and boys RA and GA groups as well as vacation bible school. After moving she attended First Baptist in Porter, and again, was a big part of her church. She taught vacation bible school and helped lead many other events and classes. When she moved to Cypress in 2012, she found a home in Houston Northwest Church. She was blessed with many friends there, including her deacons Bill and Jill Roberts as well as dear friend Nancy Henley, who very quickly became like a sister to her. She attended just about every church game possible, she especially loved bingo and dominoes.
Later in life she battled Parkinson’s Disease. She suffered for many years with that horrible disease, but she was indeed a fighter. She even took a boxing class as therapy and did very well. She was cared for in Henry’s home by Henry, Hannah, and her husband Luigi, whom she also loved as if he were her own. If you have ever seen anyone in constant pain, then you know how erratic their behavior can be sometimes, Luigi had such patience with Dottie and he was a huge blessing to her, she called him her Angel many times. He always made sure she had an endless supply of graham crackers and bananas – she could practically eat her weight in bananas and graham crackers! She often told them all she didn’t know what she would do without them.
Dottie was loved by all who met her and lived a full life of joy and happiness. She accomplished much during her life and spread her love of Jesus anytime she could. She loved shopping with her granddaughter and building puzzles with her grandson. Anyone who knew her loved her. Friends quickly became family. She had a way with words, knowing how to calm people and fix issues. Family may have been spread across the country, but her love knew no distance and she often wrote letters and sent gifts.
Right up until the day she left this earth, she put God first, and then her loved ones, all before herself. She was a bright shining light to others, and will be missed deeply, until we see her again in Heaven. She was a firm believer in the scripture verses, ‘Go Ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ Mark 16:15 and ‘Be ye kind one to another’ Eph 4:32.
We love you, Dottie.