Betty Schafer

Betty Louise Schafer, 58, of Adair, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, January 10, 2008, at her home.

Betty Louise Emmons was born April 9, 1949, on a family farm east of Adair, the daughter of Dwight Carroll and Ruth Avis (McDowell) Emmons. She was raised and lived north of Adair until 1960 when they moved south of Adair.

She graduated from Adair-Casey High School in 1967, then in 1972, graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with an English Degree. Betty taught school for one year in Sidney, Iowa, before moving to Washington D.C. where she owned and operated a popular restaurant within the political center of the city. Betty returned to Adair in 1985. Shortly after returning, she met Chris Schafer. They were married in Honolulu, Hawaii April 8, 1989.
In 1987, Chris and Betty founded Schafer Systems, Inc. concentrating on producing plastic lottery ticket dispensers. They owned and operated the company until February 1999, when they relinquished ownership to the employees in the form of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

During her career, and after retiring at age 49, she was actively involved in the community. She and Chris were twice honored as Citizens of the Year for Adair, Iowa.
Betty enjoyed her home in the country. She liked doing the mowing and taking care of the flowers and the garden at the homestead. She loved caring for family, friends and animals, especially her dog Magic. She welcomed and opened her home, campsite, and the ponds for fishing, to family and friends, and hosted many reunions and other gatherings.

Surviving Betty are her husband, Chris Schafer of Adair; her mother Ruth Emmons of Adair; her brother Neil Emmons and his wife, Kay of Cheyenne, Wyoming; nieces, Bobbi Jo (Harrison) O'Neal and her husband, Arnold of Charleston, South Carolina, Jacki (Harrison) Askelson and her husband, Jason of Johnston, Iowa, and Christine Emmons of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and nephew, Brad Emmons and his wife, Mary Beth of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Betty was very close to the Schafer family. Including her mother-in-law, Marie Schafer from Adair, and her late husband, Louis Schafer; her brothers-in-law, Robert Schafer and his wife, Janet from Guthrie Center, IA, Ron Schafer and his wife, Netti of Panora, IA, Lou Schafer and his wife, Judy from New Providence, IA, Bill Schafer of Adair, IA, and Charlie Schafer of Panora, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Betty in death were her father, Dwight Emmons; brother, Richard Emmons; and her sister, Avis (Emmons) Harrison.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2008, from 1:00 until 7:00 pm at the Hockenberry Funeral Home in Adair. Family will be present from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 16, 2008, at the Adair Community Centre with Rev. Ray Holmquist officiating. Interment will take place at Sunnyhill Cemetery south of Adair. Following the interment, the family invites everyone to join them for lunch and fellowship at the Adair Community Centre.

A memorial is being established for the Adair Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department in Betty's honor.