SHAFFER, VERNON LARKIN, July 11, 1907 – February 10, 2004

OREM – Vernon Larkin Shaffer, 96, passed away February 10, 2004 in Orem, Utah of natural causes. He was born July 11, 1907 in Acoma, Lincoln Co., NV, the oldest of 11 children to the late Larkin Richard and Dora Woods Shaffer. He married his sweetheart Lucile Garn on October 14, 1931 in the Salt Lake Temple. She passed away on September 18, 1981. Also preceding him in death is a daughter, Dora Wheat, three sisters: Vera Westergard, Carmen Gleed and Lenna Oyler, and a brother, Ned C. Shaffer.

He was educated at Milford and East Garland, Utah and attended Bear River High School. He worked as a telegrapher for the railroad, a carpenter, farmer and master whittler.

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many callings: MIA, Sunday School, Bishoprics, High Council and home teacher. He also served as a temple worker in the Logan Temple.

He moved his family from Utah to Gannett, ID in 1946, taking up farming. He built a beautiful home of lava rock, which is still standing.

He worked for the Church, building and renovating chapels in Sun Valley, Hailey, Rupert and Lewiston, ID; Eureka and Fortuna, CA; Seattle, WA; Corvallis, OR; Dawson Creek, Canada; and Kodiak Island, Alaska. Later he was made building inspector over this region. After retirement in 1972 he and his sweetheart were called to Nauvoo, IL to restore the Lucy Mack Smith home and to clear and beautify the temple lot. In 1978 he sold the farm in Gannett and bought a home in Malad, ID where he lived until he had a stroke in November, 1998.

Many know him as the Whittler. Whittling was a hobby that he loved and perfected over many years. He was asked to show and demonstrate his work for many organizations including the Boy Scouts and Festival of the American West in Logan, UT for many years, as well as the rededication of the “This Is The Place” monument in SLC. He was asked to show his whittling in many towns throughout Idaho with other artists. Because of his expertise and highly specialized skill, he was given the Idaho Governor’s Folk Art Award in 1986. His work also toured the Middle East.

He was a Good Samaritan to many; his door was open to all.

Vernon is survived by two sons: Bob G., Twin Falls, ID; Steve L. Minden, NV; four daughters, Connie Parrack Overgaard, AZ; Mary Drake and Ruth Emang, Orem, UT; and Ruby of Twin Falls, ID; three brothers, Kenneth and Jasper of East Garland, UT; and Don of North Logan, UT; three sisters: Effie Wilde, Salt Lake City, Iva Godfrey, Riverside, and JoAnn Gunnell, Brigham City, UT; 37 grandchildren, 102 great-grandchildren and 24 great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held February 14, 2004 at the Fielding Utah Stake Center.