Ilah Beatrice (McGowan) Shaffer, 88, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 12, 2024.
She was born Wednesday, July 15, 1936, to Joseph Anthony and Eda Beatrice (Harris) McGowan in Grand Island, Nebraska.
Ilah’s father was a newspaper owner/editor in Grand Island, Nebraska when Ilah was born. During his life he established and published the Sheridan News, worked for newspapers in Worland, Casper, Rock Springs, Cheyenne and Denver and owned the Green River Star newspaper. Ilah attended schools in Grand Island, Cheyenne, Sheridan and the University Prep High School in Laramie. Ilah was working as a soda jerk in Laramie where she met John Robert Shaffer, when he would come into the soda fountain to buy an ice cream soda while making his rounds on duty as a Laramie policeman. They married in Cheyenne on July 13, 1953; where John worked as a Cheyenne policeman and Ilah worked as a classified ad clerk at Cheyenne Newspapers, Inc. They had three daughters, Vicki Jo, Dawn Eda, and Roberta Lynn. In 1964, John joined the Wyoming Highway Patrol and they moved to Douglas. Ilah worked at the Converse County Bank as head bookkeeper after having a son, Daniel Robert that same year. In 1971, the highway patrol transferred John to Cody and Ilah worked as a bookkeeper at First State Bank. In 1972, they moved to Wheatland after John asked for a transfer to be closer to where he grew up. When they first moved to Wheatland, Ilah worked for Platte County School District #1 for a short time teaching K-2 students with reading and speech difficulties, but she liked working in banking, so she applied for and was hired as a bookkeeper at Wyoming National Bank and worked her way up to a teller position and then a loan officer. During this same period of time, she worked a secondary job as an insurance agent for the Wheatland Insurance Agency which was affiliated with the bank. In 1989, John retired from the highway patrol. They moved to Cheyenne where Ilah worked for a year at the American National Bank until they moved to Cody to help out family with a motel and athletic club. In 2003, they returned to Wheatland where Ilah worked at the Platte County justice court and circuit court as chief clerk until retiring on December 31, 2003. Her daughter, Lynn worked as the chief clerk at the justice court from 1977-1987 and Ilah cherished that tie to Lynn.
Ilah was an extremely loving wife and mother. Ilah was very meticulous, organized, and had a strong work ethic. To her grandson Jeff, Ilah was “the fun grandma.” To her friend, Doris Jenkins, she was the “roadrunner,” because she was always on the move, shopping, or taking a drive. Ilah and her husband, John, enjoyed going to University of Wyoming football and basketball games with family and friends. She liked traveling with family, enjoyed having them come visit, and talked to them on the phone every day. She spent much of her time visiting with family and friends, going places, and driving around with her banking coworker and close buddy, Debbie Osberg. The two loved joining up with Edward and Darlene Sorge on various adventures. Ilah enjoyed weekly coffee and frequent lunches with her special girlfriends. Some of Ilah’s favorite hobbies included reading (especially the bible), baking, housekeeping, doing word search puzzles, and taking care of her flowers and houseplants. Ilah’s morning ritual first was to wind Johns’ antique cuckoo clock from Germany and then have a cup of green tea and half of a red grapefruit. She loved roosters and “Precious Moments” figurines, and had quite the collection of both. Christmas was her favorite holiday and loved spending time with the family decorating her Christmas tree with “precious moments” ornaments. Ilah liked listening to Jim Reeves, and old gospel and country songs with her husband. She and John also enjoyed watching classic movies and old westerns. Her favorite colors were blue and purple, and her favorite flower was a carnation. Her fondest childhood memories were visiting her family in Sheridan and going to Yellowstone on her 10th birthday.
Ilah is survived by her brother, Joseph A. McGowan, Jr.; daughters, Vicki (Ira) Fellows, Dawn (Brad) Rittel; son, Dan (Cindy) Shaffer; granddaughters, Christi Lynn (Jason) Livingston and Rikki Lynn (Cody) Thies; grandsons, Kelly (Heather) Kahler, Mike Kahler, and Jeff Kahler; several great grandchildren; step-grandchildren; step-great grandchildren; nephews and nieces.
Ilah was preceded in death by her father, Joseph A. McGowan, Sr. in 1964; mother, Eda B. McGowan-Lindsey in 1978; daughter, Lynn in 1993; husband and soulmate, John in 2006; and her brother, Thomas “Bud” McGowan, also in 2006.
Those serving as honorary urnbearers are: Joe A. McGowan, Jr., * Tom McGowan, Dan Shaffer, Kelly Kahler, Mike Kahler, Jeff Kahler, Tom Kahler, Ira Fellows and Brad Rittel, Sr.
A memorial service will be held in her honor at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at the First Christian Church in Wheatland with Pastor Casey Schroeder officiating. Inurnment will be at the Wheatland Cemetery.
Donations in her memory can be sent to the First Christian Church, 95 19th Street, Wheatland, Wyoming 82201.
A tree can be planted in memory of Ilah B. Shaffer at www.gormanfh.com
Condolences may be sent to the family at PO Box 253, Wheatland, WY 82201 or at www.gormanfh.com.
Gorman Funeral Homes - Platte Chapel of Wheatland, Wyoming is in charge of the arrangements
