Verla M. “Vi” Shafer, 88, formerly of Oak Harbor, was carried away to heaven on angel’s wings Sept. 14, 2007, from Christian Health Care Center in Lynden. She was born in Kodiak, Alaska, on Nov. 14, 1918, where she grew up, went to school, and was raised by her mother Mary D. (Heitman) and step-father Arthur L. Goble. Verla left school at an early age to help in her mother’s restaurant. She met Donald Stump and they were married in 1937.

Spending time between Alaska, Ohio, and Washington, Verla was busy raising a family. At the age of 22 she and Donald divorced, and Verla moved back to Tacoma with her sons Donald, Patrick, Richard and Gary.

In 1946 she married Charles Shafer. With his service in the Army, the family traveled between Washington, Alaska and Montana. Their daughter Carol was born during this time while Verla worked as checker and bagger in a grocery store.

Around 1966 they came to Whidbey Island, and Oak Harbor, where Verla worked at the NAS commissary well into her 60s.

Verla enjoyed fishing and camping in her younger years, sewing, crocheting and bingo. She baked beautiful desserts and she was an expert cake decorator, which she sold or often times gave away. A very loving, generous, and helpful person, Verla was dearly loved by her family and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She spent the last few years of her life in Watcom County to enjoy time with her family.

She is survived by her sons Donald, Patrick and Richard Stump, daughter Carol Heyser, 17 grandchildren and 23 great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Shafer, son Gary Stump, and a brother Patrick Hughes, who gave his own life to save another from a torpedo attack during World War II.

The funeral service will be Saturday, Sept. 22, at 1:30 p.m., at Burley Funeral Chapel. Committal service will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery, then family and friends are invited to a reception celebrating her life starting at 5 p.m. at Frank’s Place, all in Oak Harbor.