Virginia Ida Schafer

October 1, 1937-December 18, 2025

Virginia Ida Blake Schafer (88) of Decatur, TX passed away in the early morning of December 18, 2025 at Decatur Medical City in Decatur, TX. She was getting stronger and feeling well, but experienced a terrible fall causing a fatal head injury. She was the beloved wife for 65 years of Earl Eugene Schafer who preceded her in death on December 27, 2020. Virginia was born in Durango, Co. and walked everywhere she went. Loved sledding in the snow and living by the river. She played basketball in high school and was in tumbling. She is reunited with 6 of her siblings as well as grandson Joshua M. Kirkland (1977-1993) and granddaughter Virginia Faye Burdette (1996-1996). Virginia was the sixth child of nine born to H. Elwyn Blake Jr. and Charlotte Mae Blake.

She is survived by a sister Kathryn Rachel Blake Edwards of Lewisville, TX and brother David Stanley Blake of Albuquerque, NM. Virginia “Ginny” is survived by her four daughters Deanna Lee Martin and husband Darroll Wm (Bill) Martin of Decatur, TX; Sherry Eileen Taylor and husband Jeffrey Taylor of Saint Jo, TX; Kaye Ellen Gunlock and husband Paul Eric (Rick) of Lake Dallas, TX; and Lisa Faye Adams and husband Karl of Sunset, TX. She was grandma to 15 grandsons and granddaughters and great-grandma to 23.

She was the most wonderful and so very beloved of all her family: A truly godly Matriarch who prayed fervently and daily for all her family. She was an avid ‘texter’ and kept in touch with all her children and grands – exhorting them to godly living and family love. She adored each and every one of us...and we all knew it. She rarely forgot one’s birthday and her birthday song to us is a treasured memory and many have it saved on their phones.

Ginny was a stay-at-home mother all her life. She was available when we got home from school, shuttled us to events, laughed and cried and encouraged us. And she was always snapping pictures of every single event. She sewed dresses for us girls and our dolls. She taught us all by her example how to sew and clean and cook and be a godly wife, mom and friend. When her granddaughters came along, she was the same loving example and friend to them, as well. She has gone to her reward in heaven for a job well done while here.

Mom was quite the competitor having been in sports in her high school. In her later years, she had such fun watching the Texas Rangers baseball, basketball and most any football game. Dad once said watching basketball was like watching paint dry, to him. But he loved watching mom watch it and her excitement! Besides her texts to friends and family – and watching Marco Polo videos of all her great grandchildren - Mom absolutely loved Scrabble! She was definitely a word person and played in person with her sister Kathy and daughter Deanna, often winning, even at 88 years young. She also loved to play Canasta with anyone she could get to sit down and shuffle the cards. She was an avid fan of Hallmark movies always “waiting for the kiss” in the last scene. While she missed dad so very much, she was living her godly life for family until God called her home. For the last five years, Ginny had been able to live in her home with Deanna and Bill as caretakers. Two years ago she sold hers and dads homeplace of 30 years in Aubrey, TX. and moved near Decatur, TX.

On December 8th, we four sisters gathered at moms to celebrate a birthday and spend the whole day together in games, food and laughter. It will be a cherished memory for us all. Then Saturday December 13th, 34 of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren gathered at her house for a Schafer Family Christmas party. It was wonderful and full of great memories, and pictures, for those who were able to be here. We are so blessed to have had these two last memories and time with her.

Finally, Ginny would want the biggest memory of her to be her love of God the Father and of Jesus Christ; she shared that love not only with family but with every repairman that came into the home. Even when in the hospital she would ask the Dr. and nurses if they knew Jesus. Her Bible that she read daily is filled with notes. What a legacy she leaves! She will be desperately missed by all family and friends that knew her.

Mom was a ‘class act’ and we were all proud and grateful to call her mom, grandma, sister, aunt and fried. We will miss her but know she is enjoying the reward of a good life as a result of her relationship with Christ.

A memorial service to honor mom’s life will be held on Saturday January 3, 2026 at Sanger Bible Church, 1012 N. 5th, Sanger, TX 76266 from 1-3pm. Come and go as the family will be available to visit.