Elizabeth Shafer finished up her 25 years of service as a conduit for communication Tuesday. Shafer is retiring as postmistress of the Gas post office.
In her own way Shafer has touched the citizens of the community on many levels. Starting out in 1987, she began as a substitute rural mail carrier. After two years she moved into a regular rural route, providing a link to the outside world for people in the far reaches of Allen County. In the succeeding years, Shafer has moved up the ranks of the United State Postal Service. She served as the postmistress of LaHarpe for 15 years before moving over to Gas’ office in her final year. Through it all, Shafer has viewed her job as keeping people connected.
“I’ve enjoyed the people the most out of anything,” Shafer said. “Doesn’t matter if it’s a customer coming in to the office or when I would deliver mail, it’s never been dull.”
Shafer now plans to spend more time as a volunteer with the Court Appointed Special Advocate program. CASA puts children who have been neglected or abused in homes where people like Shafer speak for them in court and do what they can to give them a sense of normalcy.
“I think it’s so important for these children to have their voices heard,” Shafer said. “I’m looking forward to being able to do more for these kids.”
Shafer, 61, will also spend some of her free time playing with her three grandchildren and pursuing her hobbies of sewing and handiwork.
“I am looking forward to being able to do so many more things that I just haven’t had time for.”
