Raymond "Smokey" Shafer

Raymond ”Smokey” Shafer, 90, of Greensburg, passed away on Wednesday August 15th 2018 after a long brave, battle with cancer.  He lived life to the fullest and fought the disease until his last day.  Anyone who knows Smokey, knows he lived for his family.  He was born February 11, 1928, the son of the late Thomas and Mary (Barkman) Shafer, of Forbes Road.  He is survived by his loving wife Betty (Kimmel) Shafer and has been happily married for 67 years.  Smokey is the brother of the late John, William, Jerry, Robert, and Merle Shafer, and Helen (Shafer) Weaver, and Lorraine Shafer.  In addition to his wife, he is survived by his four children, Ray Shafer, of Greensburg, Patricia (Shafer) McCormick (Edward), of Jeannette, Kim (Shafer) Horn, of Greensburg, and Cindy (Shafer) Heater (James), of Southwest Greensburg; and seven grandchildren, Zachary Heater, Melissa (Shafer) Santimauro, Kellie (McCormick) Spiller, Amy McCormick, Ashley (Heater) Harbarger, Jayson McCormick, and Hannah Botteicher-Horn.  He is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren, Alyia, Dante, and Nico Santimauro, Aidan McCormick, Nico Mazzoni, Layla and Logan Spiller, Madison and Jillian McCormick, Kyleigh, Kyler and Kayden Harbarger, and Aubrey Botteicher-Horn; two great-great-grandchildren Noah and Ava Santimauro; his sister, Darlene Robinson, of Delmont; and several nieces and nephews.  Ray was a dedicated life member of Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department Hose Company #8 for 66 years, and was also a member of the Pennsylvania Firemen’s Association and the Westmoreland County Firemen’s Association.  When not spending time with his family, you could find Smokey at the firehall carnival, the Shuey burger bash, on the golf course with friends and family, swinging on his porch swing, or attending mass at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral.  He was a proud veteran of the Army.  He worked at Westinghouse as a machinist and opened Paradise Video in Greensburg with his family.  Despite battling cancer, Smokey tried to attend as many family and firehall functions as possible.  Most cancer patients in their 70’s-80’s would never even think of starting chemo, especially knowing about the side effects.  Smokey wasn’t afraid of cancer or the chemo.  Life is worth living and the side effects were worth the risks of spending time with his family.  Despite losing weight, losing his hair, and losing his energy, Smokey continued his battle.  Cancer was not going to consume his life.  He always had a smile on his face and fought until the very end.  In a celebration of life, friends and family will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM Sunday at the LEO M. BACHA FUNERAL HOME, INC., 516 Stanton Street, Greensburg.  A funeral liturgy will begin at 10:30 AM Monday in the funeral home.  Interment will follow in Greensburg Catholic Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Greensburg VFD Hose Company #8.  The Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department will conduct a service at 7 PM Sunday in the funeral home.  www.bachafh.com

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