Betty Jane Shafer, affectionately known as "Mimi" by her loving family, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. She was born on June 10, 1928, in Alexandria, Louisiana, and was the only child of Mildred Claire Robinson and James Franklin Dodson. She lost her father at a young age but gained a wonderful stepfather when her mother married James Allen Biossat a few years later.

She attended Alexandria public schools and walked to school many times with her friend, Lorraine Texada. Little did either of them know that almost sixty-five years later, their grandchildren would meet and marry. She went on to graduate from Bolton High School in Alexandria in 1945. She attended Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana, and studied bookkeeping. Her bookkeeping skills led to a new job in Shreveport where she met and married the love of her life, Willie Forest Shafer of Marshall, on April 21, 1951. They began their life together in Marshall where they became active members of First Presbyterian Church. She also enjoyed being a member of the Amaryllis Beatty Garden Club and the Marshall Iris Club. After daughters Sandra Lynn and Julie Ann were born, she became active in various PTA organizations and Camp Fire Girls, leading a group with Jo Edwards for twelve years. As their girls began junior high, she returned to work for Henry Lawrence, CPA. After Willie became a director at Morton-Thiokol Corporation in 1977, they enjoyed traveling for business as well as for pleasure.

With five grandchildren, Betty and Willie could be found at numerous sports events, piano and dance recitals, and were definitely counted on to deliver history fair projects to school every year! When Willie was diagnosed at 62 with early onset Alzheimer's, Betty became a champion for families affected by Alzheimer's disease. She started the first support group in Marshall for spouses and family members. She was honored by Marshall Regional Medical Center for her commitment to "Easing the Burden for service and dedicated leadership" as the Alzheimer Support Leader from 1995-1999. She was an active member of the Hospital Auxiliary at Marshall Memorial Hospital. She thoroughly enjoyed working in the gift shop as a "Pink Lady" for many years. She also honed her retail skills for 12 years when her daughter, Sandra, opened A Tisket A Tasket children's boutique in downtown Marshall. She was present every day to lend her support and looked forward to going to market in Dallas six times a year.

After suffering a stroke in October 2015, Betty moved to Reunion Inn in Marshall. She had many friends there and could be found playing bridge, bingo, or whatever the latest game was. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Marshall for 49 years.

She is survived by her daughters, Sandra Herring and Julie Cohee and her husband, David, of Marshall. "Mimi" was so loved by her grandchildren- Zachary Allen Oden and wife, Kristen, and Matthew David Cohee, all of Marshall; Amy Kathleen Oden of Beckville; Amanda Jane Rehnquist Smith and husband, Randy, of Cedar Park, Texas; Mallary Claire Cohee of New Caney, Texas; and Michael Ryan Herring and wife, Cassana, of Pittsburg, Texas. Her 10 great grandchildren include Blake Hayden and Asher Drew Smith of Cedar Park; Jayce Allen and Jacob Holt Oden and Bryce Henry Alexander of Marshall; Caleb Scott Oden of Nacogdoches; Tyson Deon Oden of Beckville; Braxton Ryan and Kyler Blaine Herring of Pittsburg; Colt Wayne and Chloie Claire Cohee of New Caney; and Megan Claire Fortman of New York, New York. She adored her great great granddaughter, Addlee Blaze Oden of Central, Texas. Preceding her in death was her husband, Willie; her parents, Mildred Biossat and James Franklin Dodson; her stepfather, James Allen Biossat, and her son-in-laws, John Hoyt Oden, Jr. and Michael Ray Herring.

Her family would like to thank the caring staff of Reunion Inn; her special caregiver, June; and her "Guardian Angel", Karen.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Services for will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 23, 2025, in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Colonial Gardens Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends will be held prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel.