Lyska Ruth Stockholm Shaffer, 92, passed away peacefully on March 28, 2025. Lyska was born on June 24, 1932, in Beaumont, Texas, to Ruth Ellen Moye Stockholm and Charles Allan Stockholm. Growing up, her family lived in Beaumont, San Antonio, Daisetta and Honey Island, Texas. Lyska enjoyed the outdoor life and the Honey Island (Spring Fed) Pool that her family built. Many visitors from all over the region traveled to this popular pool. Lyska attended South Park High School, class of 1950, in Beaumont, Texas. At 14, Lyska met the love of her life, Grady Shaffer, at a meeting that was arranged by Lyska’s aunt and Grady’s oldest sister. The couple married in 1949, and had 61 wonderful years together. Lyska and Grady lived in Lott, Texas, at the start of their marriage, and shortly afterwards, moved to Beaumont where they eventually settled in the home Grady built in Bevil Oaks. The home Grady built was the fourth house to be built in Bevil Oaks. At this time, Highway 105 was a dirt road that came to a dead-end at the Pine Island Bayou. They both wanted a large family, and had 4 boys (in 5 years) and then 1 girl. Lyska was acting Chief Operating Officer of the Shaffer Household, and ran a tight ship. Vacations were always an adventure for the Shaffer family, and usually included her younger brother Ronnie, as he was close to the ages of her boys. Fishing, camping, boating and skiing were a family affair, as well as all the rodeo and sports events that the family participated in. NFL Sundays at home were regarded as a serious event not to be interrupted. Lyska worked for the family businesses, L&W Xray, Four Way Level Company and Special Investigation Agency. Lyska bought her first motorcycle by selling her diamond watch and made many trips across the country over the years on her motorcycle. She and Grady had many friends that enjoyed riding motorcycles or camping with them. In 1980, Lyska made a trip with her son Kent, and friend Danny Bowden, on a two week motorcycle trip to The Black Hills of South Dakota, sleeping in a sleeping bag along the way. Lyska and Grady attended many Kenneth Copeland Conventions in Fort Worth, Texas, and Lyska served as an usher at these conventions for many years. She enjoyed gardening, working around her pool, hosting her Bridge and Sunday School Class groups, and also served as Queen at one point, in her Red Hat Club. All the grandchildren learned to swim in Granny’s pool and she kept candy jars full for anyone that stopped by. Groovy Granny was quite proficient with firearms, and had no reservations about heading out alone in her motorhome or her customized van. Always up for the next thrill, Lyska started skydiving when she was 85 years of age, but soon grew bored with this. Holidays were her favorite, hosting breakfast on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving lunch for the entire extended family for many years. Lyska was an active member of Rosedale Baptist Church, Beaumont, Texas and later, for many years Bevil Oaks Baptist Church, Bevil Oaks, Texas. Lyska was a devout Christian and loved the Lord, always telling everyone that she was God’s favorite. Lyska was preceded in death by her loving husband Grady; her parents; brothers, James Allan Stockholm and Kendall Ray Stockholm; daughter-in-law, Carol Shaffer; and niece, Kathy Stockholm. Mrs. Shaffer is survived by sons, Gary Shaffer (Terilee), Cody Shaffer (Sandi), Scot Shaffer and Kent Shaffer (Rhonda); and daughter, Lyska Ann Shaffer; grandchildren, Kary Shaffer (Katy), Heather Wall (Mike), Mike Shaffer (Chris),Virginia Gamino (Eddie), Kimberly Tomkins, Stephanie Frederick (Chris), Scot Shaffer (Angel), Cory Shaffer (Kristin), Katy Shaffer, Kacy Kirk (Sean), PJ Shaffer, Tiffany Lenoir (Jarod) and Brittany Shaffer; 25 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren. She is survived by one brother, Ronnie Stockholm and numerous nieces and nephews she loved dearly. A special thanks is extended to Jerry Christopher for being a wonderful friend. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Bevil Oaks Baptist Church in Bevil Oaks, Texas, at 2:00 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall located in the back of the church.
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