2020: Becky Shaffer eulogy

Rebecca Anne Banning was born in Seattle, Washington on June 27, 1958 to Richard Edwin Banning and Lola Mae Quill.

 

In 1983, she met Ronald Lawrence Shaffer and the couple married on June 15, 1985. Together, they raised five children: Jennifer, Richie, Shaynie, Ronni and Steph. From that unity came 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. On the way is a third great-grandchild that Becky would have undoubtedly showered with love.

 

Around her community, Becky was known as a respected Emergency Medical Technician. She started as an EMT and firefighter in 1996 with the Colville Confederated Tribes. She became like a matriarch for local workers, inviting them to family holidays when they were on-call and, in general, made them feel at home.

 

Wanting to advance her education in her 40s, she enrolled at Apollo College in Spokane, graduating with high honors as a certified medical assistant in 2005. It was an inspirational moment for the family, who was very proud of her.

 

Thereafter, she worked for Lake Roosevelt Health Centers from 2005 to 2013 as a CMA while still volunteering for CCT Fire & Rescue.

 

Outside of her family, which always came first, Becky had several passions in life.

 

She loved the outdoors; hunting and fishing. Her family regards her as a great provider as she was good at hunting deer, harvested two moose, many turkeys and countless fish.

 

As a young adult, Becky was known to love muscle cars. She owned a ’69 Camaro and a ’65 GTO ragtop. She also enjoyed motorcycle rides on her Harley Davidson, where she notably ventured to the Laughlin River Run Motorcycle Rally in Nevada, a state where her daughter also lives. Another ride she was proud of was through Glacier National Park.

 

She began riding motorcycles with a brand new Sportster, a ’98 Heritage. She eventually purchased her brother-in-law Bob Louie’s Sportster before finally owning an Indian.

 

She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Michael Banning, sister Theresa McEldowney and granddaughter Kendra Clendennen. Surviving siblings include Ed Banning and Tony Boyd.