Douglas Eugene Schafer

Douglas Eugene Schafer was born on January 8, 1932 in Gainesville, Texas, to Harry and Alma Schafer. He was preceded in death by his parents and a young daughter, Wendy Leigh Schafer.

Doug grew up in Gainesville where he graduated from Gainesville High School. He also attended North Texas State University. Doug proudly served as a member of the United States Army.

Doug had many careers throughout his lifetime, and he always had to be busy. His 10 years with the Santa Fe Railroad as a fireman/engineer began his love affair with trains. He spent 30 years in Quality and Engineering at Texas Instruments. Following his retirement from TI, Doug took a couple of years off to build their home at Lake Texoma. His next career was with the Plano Independent School District as a school bus driver. He retired from there in 2001, and almost immediately went to work for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. His retirement from Enterprise came when he passed peacefully into heaven for whatever work our Heavenly Father has for him there. At the time of his passing he was at home with his wife and children.

Doug and Margaret, his beloved wife of 63 years, were high school sweethearts. Their love story rivals any of the great ones in history as their devotion to each other has created a great legacy among their children, family and friends.

Doug moved his young family to Plano in 1962. They joined the First Baptist Church where he has been a member of the Reeves/Chapel Class for most of those years, and where he sang in the Sunshine Singers Adult Choir for several years. He also supported the "I Love My Church" projects.

Doug watched and participated in the growth and development of the city of Plano. He served a term as president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. There was not much that Doug could not do. His hobbies included photography, writing short stories, flower gardening, model railroad layouts, all kinds of model building, birdhouses for family and friends, hunting, fishing, boating, and teaching his children and grandchildren gun safety and marksmanship. Doug was a champion marksman. He served as a soccer coach, Cub Scout Master, and Indian Guide father. Doug enjoyed traveling with family throughout the southwestern part of the United States, Texas State Parks, and national parks. He also traveled with family in Europe. He never passed a historical marker without stopping to read it. He loved doing anything that had to do with Texas or Lake Texoma. Doug was an avid reader and history buff.

Doug is survived by his wife Margaret, daughter Kimberly Carpenter and husband Rocky, sons Rick Schafer and wife Kathy, Gary Schafer and wife Sharon, and Scott Schafer and wife Scherry; grandchildren Jared Schafer and wife Becky, Sonny Gibson and wife Stephanie, Amber Gorski and husband Chris, Jeremy Schafer, Zackary Carpenter, Ransom Carpenter, Connor Schafer, Christian Schafer, and Cailey Schafer; great granddaughters Karly and Karsyn Schafer; sister, Trixie Chapman, brother and sister James and Nancy Miller, sister-in-law Linda Miller, brother-in-law Brian Pearson, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

. A memorial service to honor the Lord and celebrate Doug's life will be held Friday, January 27, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Plano, 1300 E 15th Street, Plano, Texas 75074. There will be a reception immediately following the service to greet the family.

Memorial donations may be made to the "I Love My Church" Projects at First Baptist Church Plano or to the American Cancer Society.