Obituary of Helen Tainter Shaffer

Helen T. Shaffer was born in Anaconda, Montana to Stanton and Fern Tainter, April 15th, 1930. From 1933 to 1941 she grew up in a mining camp in Kildun, Mexico. Her father was a mining engineer and her mother was the only teacher. She spent her teen years in Tucson, Arizona. There she graduated from high school and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where she graduated with a degree in commercial art from the University of Utah. During that time Helen became an accomplished pilot and rock climber. In the 1950's Helen worked in San Francisco for the White House department store as an advertising art director. Helen was married to Oliver Herbert Shaffer on June 9th, 1956 in Salt Lake City. Her daughter, Laura was born in 1963. After earning her teaching certificate at University of Arizona, Tucson, she immediately got a job as a teacher at Camp Pendleton and bought a house in Oceanside, California where she lived for 43 years. She worked most of her teaching years at San Luis Rey Elementary School where she was a very popular teacher. From 1976 to the early 1980's she wrote freelance articles for the San Diego Union, mostly for the "Currents" section. She roamed the San Diego Area writing about camping and hiking. She also wrote many travel articles based on her travels and had many photography features. After retiring, she traveled worldwide and enjoyed camping, hiking and photography. Helen leaves behind one daughter and son-in-law, Laura Kolding and Dan Kolding and three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Helen requested to have no funeral service but to celebrate her life by giving to any nature, conservation or wildlife non-profit. Helen was a life-long lover of animals, nature and adventure. Services were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory. Thoughts and condolences may be sent to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com.