Elma Fay Eshelbrenner

Elma Fay Eshelbrenner, 80, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Saturday, April 16, 2005, at the Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, Kan., following a two-week illness. She was born Jan. 14, 1925, in Bourbon County, Kan., the daughter of Frank W. Beal and Ethel M. Galvin Beal.

She married Wallace F. Shaffer on Feb. 24, 1945, in Fort Scott and he preceded her in death on Jan. 31, 1997. She then married Albert Eshelbrenner on Dec. 13, 2000.

She was a 1943 graduate of Fort Scott High School. She also graduated from cosmetology school and worked with home bound and nursing home clientele. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, an active life time member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary, Past Matron of the Olive Chapter Order Eastern Star and held a dual membership in the Eldora Chapter No. 42 O.E.S., Past Royal Matron, Order of Amaranth Regal Court, Past Worthy High Priests, Order of White Shrine of Jerusalem, and Order of the Brauceant of Iola, Kan. She was also involed in the senior citizens dance group and bowling league.

Survivors include her husband, Albert, of the home; two sons, Ronald R. Shaffer, Lakewood, Colo., and William W. Shaffer, Pueblo, Colo.; two daughters, Carolyn G. Mason, Ochlocknee, Ga., and Jane Roper, Pueblo West, Colo.; two stepsons, Albert Eshelbrenner Jr., Pittsburg, Kan., and Richard Eshelbrenner, Plano, Texas; two stepdaughters, Barbara Hagood, Medicine Lodge, Kan., and Rosemary Ballweber, Carthage, Mo. Also surviving is a brother, Elmer Beal, Fort Scott; and a sister Ada Beal, Fort Scott; five grandchildren; 12 step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her first husband, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Donald Shaffer; a grandson; two brothers, Edward Beal and Homer Beal; and three sisters, Elva Beal, Anna Lucille Beal and Helen Frisbie.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the First United Methodist Church, Fort Scott, with the Rev. David Watson officiating. Burial will follow in U.S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott. The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, in the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel. Memorials are suggested to either the First United Methodist Church or St. Mary's Catholic School and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.