Mary Lynne Schafer

Mary Lynne Webb Schafer, of Canadian passed away on September 9, 2023, in Canadian, Texas, at the age of 93. A private family memorial will be held at a later date.  Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors

Mary Lynne Webb Schafer was born on March 7, 1930, to Gill & Kathryn Webb, in Lipscomb County, Texas.  Mary Lynne grew up in Lipscomb, attending school there and later in Darrouzett, Texas, where she graduated as Valedictorian of her class.  She was known in high school as the ‘Biggest Flirt’, a label given to her by her peers and in actual print, in her senior annual!  Mary Lynne worked the telephone switchboard for her parents growing up.  When asked how she met her spouse, she said he came by the house one evening while she was working the switchboard, stayed about an hour to visit, and that seemed to mean they were dating.  She then married Jimmy Schafer on October 15, 1950. They first lived at the Brainard Ranch where Jimmy worked, then moved to Canadian to raise their family. 

Mary Lynne was the most humble, compassionate, faith-minded, faith-living, giving person.  While she was tied down more than most mothers, caring for a disabled son for 43 years (which she always felt so honored to do), she still found the time to volunteer at the First Christian Church and the nursing home, always doing for others.  She was an avid Wildcat and Ladycat fan, especially football and basketball, even when her grandkids weren’t involved!  Mary Lynne was a master piano player.  She played by ear and could hear a song and play it instantly, quite an amazing talent.  She played for church, rhythm band at the nursing home, weddings, many funerals, and also played with a couple of local bands that had a few gigs.  Her favorite gig, and one of the things she enjoyed the most, was when her son-in-law, Skip, came to town.  They would shut themselves in the bedroom for hours (and we do mean hours!), playing music.  The hymns she played were often referred to as ‘foot stompin’ church music’, and if you were ever fortunate enough to hear her play, you will know what that means!  She did all of these things while raising three other children who kept her on her toes – and then of course she was married to Jimmy, who REALLY kept her on her toes! 

She was a great daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother.  The type of daughter who, every weekend for decades on end, traveled to Lipscomb to go visit her mom and aunt with her pack of kids in tow, later caring for her mom in her final years; the type of wife who, early in their marriage, held down the fort while Jimmy worked long hours, not to mention loving him and his shenanigans for all of their almost 73 years together; the type of mother who was always there for her children to serve as room mother and attend all of her kid’s events and activities; and lastly, the type of grandmother who spent real quality time with her grandchildren, a couple of whom were fortunate enough to grow up in Canadian.  Just a few examples: Megan was her side-kick for many years, Mary Lynne let her help cook and never stopped Megan when she wanted to put a cup (or more!) of cinnamon in the cinnamon rolls or when she wanted to eat all of the cabbage off the cabbage rolls when they came out of the oven!   A more extreme example:  Mary Lynne took it upon herself to train her grandson, Tanner, for his future quarterback career when he was little, going so far as to break her arm out in the front yard going after a pass or maybe it was a tackle!?  With the grandkids (and later great-grandkids!) who didn’t live here, she looked forward to and loved when they came to visit and would cook all of their favorite foods and play game after game with them.  She did it all, it was a job she loved.  We love her for doing it so well and are so fortunate she was able to do it for so long. 

Mary Lynne was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Laney Schafer.  She is survived by her husband of an amazing, almost 73 years, Jimmy; a daughter, Kathy Parker, and husband Skip of Richardson; a son, Sam Schafer of Lipscomb; the bossy daughter (as she liked to call her), Janae Schafer of Canadian; and five grandchildren, Nikki Hunter (husband Jason, and great-grandchildren Charlie, Jack, Edie & Georgia) of Richardson; Josh Parker of Austin; Heather Logsdon (husband Josh, and great-grandchildren Ty & Lily) of Plano; Tanner Schafer of Norman, OK; the bossy one’s daughter, Megan Schafer of Oklahoma City, OK; a cousin (who was truly like a sister) Carol Cole, and husband Charles of Amarillo; and family by choice, Luke and Jennifer Mills (children Tripp, Sophia and Blaze) of Canadian.  She is also survived by many special nieces and nephews, a sister-in-law, Glenna Schafer, who went above and beyond these last few months for Mary Lynne and all of us, and a host of other relatives and friends, all of whom she adored.  In lieu of flowers or food, Mary Lynne’s two favorite places to donate were First Christian Church and Mesa View Senior Living but would be honored by any donation in her memory to your own favorite charity.