Obituary of Matthew Paul Shaffer

Matthew Paul Shaffer, 31, of Bruceton Mills, WV passed away on Friday, November 10, 2017.  Born on March 8, 1986, in Cumberland, he was the son of Randy Paul Shaffer and Sheila Martin Davis.  Matthew was a 2004 graduate of Southern Garrett High School.  He served in the United States Army from September 2005 to 2009, at which time he was discharged with honors and medically retired.   He had been stationed in Ft. Riley, KS as part of the 1st Infantry Division, “The Big Red One” and was a gunner in his unit.  Matthew was deployed from February 2007 through April 2008 to Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he earned the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.  He was a former member of the Oakland and Halfway Volunteer Fire Departments.  He loved his dog, Peaches, and enjoyed old Chevy trucks and motorcycles.  He will be lovingly remembered as a loyal friend who fiercely loved his family.  It has been said of Matthew that he impacted many lives.   He is survived by his mother, Sheila Martin Davis and husband Steve of Oakland; father, Randy Shaffer and wife Katrina of Bruceton Mills; one sister, Sarah Shaffer Beckman and husband Casey “Delbie” of Oakland; two stepbrothers, Jeremy and Matthew Casteel; paternal grandmother, Lillian “Midge” Shaffer; three aunts, Peggy Kitzmiller and husband Charlie, Shirley Fletcher, and Robin Fazenbaker and husband Bill; uncles, Lee Shaffer and Calvin Coddington; and several cousins.  He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Charles “Junior” and Olive (Blamble) Martin; paternal grandfather, Robert Shaffer; and one aunt, Linda Coddington.  A private funeral service will be held in the C & S Fredlock Funeral Home, P.A., Oakland with Pastor Dan Jordan officiating.  Matthew will be laid to rest at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Matthew’s name to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS  66675 or to Cindy’s Fund, PO Box 182, Oakland, MD 21550.