Robert Schafer

Robert Philip Schafer was born on January 24, 1931 to Laura and Philip Schafer in Edwardsville, Illinois. He resided on his ranch outside Clifton, Texas, and died on January 21, 2021. He was a devoted husband to Marge (Dyar) Schafer, the love of his life for 62 years, a loving father to son Phil Schafer and wife Angie, and daughter Laura Hyman and husband Eric, and a proud grandfather (“Bubba”) to Kelsey, Andrew, Adam and Kristen Hyman.  He loved being an uncle to his numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Betty Morrison McKinnon.

Bob attended St. Boniface Grade School and Edwardsville High School.  During his youth, he participated in boy scouts, band, altar serving, and the varsity tennis team. He attended Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, Missouri, where he earned a B.S. and M.S. in Mining Engineering (Petroleum Option) in 1952 and 1953.  He was active in his Catholic fraternity, intramurals, engineering honor societies, and service groups.  MSM awarded Bob an Honorary Degree in 1975, an Alumni Merit Award in 1979, and inducted him into the School of Mines and Metallurgy Academy in 1998.  Bob established the Robert and Margaret Schafer Endowed Scholarship at MSM, now Missouri University of Science and Technology.  

Bob was drafted into the army in 1953, spent time in the U.S. and Japan working in petroleum depots, and was honorably discharged in 1955. He was proud to serve his country!

His first petroleum engineering job was with Shell Oil Company, first in Midland, Texas, where he met and married Marge (July 12, 1958), then Abilene, Houston, and New Orleans.  He went to work for Core Lab in 1966 and spent two years in Rio de Janeiro. Later, he joined James. A. Lewis Engineering in Dallas before forming the petroleum consulting firm, LaRue, Moore & Schafer, with John LaRue and Joe Moore in 1972.  He was a registered professional engineer in Texas.     

He retired from the oil industry in 1991 and moved to Fossil Canyon Ranch near Clifton, Texas, in 1993, where he enjoyed ranching, hiking, and hunting (dove, quail, turkey and deer) with friends and family. He always had a huge smile on his face and said he was the luckiest man on earth to live on the Ranch. In 2002, Bob and Marge were awarded the Lone Star Steward Award for their deer management program. 

As a devout Catholic who lived his faith daily, Bob selflessly served his church communities, especially St. Rita in Dallas and Holy Angels in Clifton.  He volunteered as lector and on finance and parish councils.  He was a member of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and President of Serra Club Dallas, Greater Dallas Community of Churches, and Catholic Charities Dallas. Bob and Marge were founding members of the St. Rita–Temple Shalom Dialogue Group, and they traveled to Israel and Rome in 1985 with an audience with the Pope as a highlight.

In Clifton, Bob and Marge devoted themselves to numerous causes, including the arts, education, and Christianity, particularly The Bosque Museum and Bosque Arts Center.  In 2013, the Clifton Chamber of Commerce awarded Bob and Marge the Lifetime Achievement Award for their years of outstanding service.

Bob was devoted to serving others his entire life, and always greeted you with joy in his heart.  He loved family gatherings, especially with large crowds where he would always initiate singing God Bless America just after the dinner prayer! Other favorite pastimes included family reunions, holiday get-togethers, dinner with friends, musical events, watching Texas Rangers and Dallas Mavericks, reading historical nonfiction, playing tennis, golf, and bridge, managing stocks, snow skiing (especially in Steamboat), RV camping and traveling the world. His daily workouts and jolly demeanor kept him healthy and happy. 

A private service will be held and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to Holy Angels Catholic Church, 1915 W 5th Street, Clifton TX 76634 or the Bosque Arts Center, 215 S College Hill Dr. Clifton, TX 76634.

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