Tracy Shaffer

Tracy Vernon Shaffer, 65, passed away at his home in Stayton, Oregon on January 20th, 2025, after a lengthy battle with cancer. 

Tracy was born on August 11, 1959, to George and Nancy Rife, and was subsequently adopted by a stepfather, Robert Shaffer. Tracy grew up and attended schools in Philomath, Oregon.

Shortly after high school, Tracy was hired by Freres Lumber Company as a loader operator, unloading log trucks with a huge log loader and stacking logs onto large piles in the mill yard. 

Later he switched from logs to rocks and went to work as a loader operator for Morse Bros. and continued working for Knife River Corporation when they bought Morse Bros. Tracy worked in the Salem area Knife River gravel pits, loading gravel trucks and a rock crusher for many years. Tracy was well liked by his co-workers and highly regarded for his work ethic and dependability by his Knife River supervisors. 

Tracy was an accomplished cook and loved using his backyard BBQ where he specialized in steaks and ribs. He was consistently asked to bring his delicious crab quiche to family dinners. In his youth, he enjoyed fishing and hunting with his grandfather, Virgil Smith. 

Tracy was married twice and divorced twice. Tracy is survived by his son, Gage Shaffer, Stayton, OR, his niece Raechel Madden (Thomas), Philomath, OR, and his stepfather, Richard Raleigh, Keizer, OR. He was preceded in death by his mother, Nancy Raleigh, his brother Jeffrey Shaffer, and his Sister Cynthia Shaffer.

There will be no public memorial service. In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible remembrances, in Tracy’s name, may be made to Mount Union Cemetery Association, PO Box 1025, Philomath, OR 97370.