Grant Shaffer of Savannah, Ga. passed away Monday, May 27, 2024, after a fatal heart attack. He was 56.
He always loved the outdoors. His earliest happy times were spent running around his grandparents’ farm with his siblings in Wright City, Mo., and riding hundreds of miles on his road bike. His proudest accomplishment was completing a 2,190-mile thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 1996. He took great satisfaction in the fact that he walked every single inch without compromise – which was one of his stubborn traits that both frustrated his family and made them smile.
Creativity was the other defining part of Grant’s life. He was a brilliant artist and graphic designer. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Missouri in 1993. Later, he attended Pikes Peak Community College and Savannah College of Art and Design (Illustration). He combined his love of technology and design by earning an associate’s degree in mechanical drafting from Savannah Technical College. This training led him to take flight on his dream job as a technical designer for the G700 Completions Engineering Team at Gulfstream Aerospace.
In his spare time, he turned his artistic talent to wood-working, creating a variety of projects, from hand-carved fountain pens to an elegant flat storage cabinet. He was hard at work on a table for his family’s home when he passed.
He was a proud Girl Scout dad, who helped his daughter, Ella, and her troop with various projects and provided guidance for their outdoor adventures for more than a decade.
Most of all, he loved his family. He found his perfect match in Amy when they worked together in Knoxville. Everyone who knew him knew his daughter, Ella, made his life complete. His life revolved around her activities, and he was always so proud of her. He was known for injecting funny faces and gestures into the most boring family pictures and was his extended family’s sometimes-cranky tech support advisor.
Grant is survived by his wife of 20 years, Amy, and daughter, Ella, of Savannah, Ga.; his mother, Melba Shaffer of Columbia, Mo.; his sister and brother-in-law, Laurie and Chris Forsyth of Wheat Ridge, Colo.; his brother & sister-in-law, Mark and Christan Shaffer of Knoxville, Tenn.; nephews Peter Shaffer of Taiwan and Philip Shaffer of Knoxville; Amy’s parents, Art and Jean Seifert of Lenexa, Kan; her brothers Peter and Keri Seifert of Minneapolis, Minn., and Rusty and Tricia Seifert of Bozeman, Mont; as well as numerous friends around the country. He was preceded in death by his father, William Hal Shaffer.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Grant from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, May 31, at the Girl Scout Camp Low Lodge (1912 Rose Dhu Rd, Savannah, GA 31419). His family will scatter his ashes at his favorite mountain-top location. Both will be low-key, casual events to match Grant’s general desire to avoid being the center of attention, in spite of being loved by so many people.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia (GSHG) Adopt-A-Camp Team (ACT) – Camp Low (535 E Liberty, Savannah, GA 31401) or the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (appalachiantrail.org).
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Tal and Rita Loos
I am so sorry for your loss. We will keep you in our thoughts through these trying times.
Dr. Kathy S. Love
Amy, Ella, and family. I am so sorry for your loss. Grant was a wonderful husband and father combined with extraordinary creative and technical talent. I was blessed to know him as a part of your sweet family and am proud to call him a Savannah Tech alumnus.
Kim P Coney
Amy, Ella, and family,
I am sadden my the passing of Grant. He was a great husband and father and very supportive. I will keep you lifted in prayer. May God bless and keep you.
Gunnar Tyson
Amy, Ella, and family. I am so sorry for your loss. I started my career at Gulfstream alongside Grant. We were in the same “freshman” class/onboarding phase. He was a great co-worker and even better friend who always spoke highly of his family. Enjoyed hearing stories from him and working with him. Keeping his family and friends in my prayers.
Christina Mastison
I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep you in our thoughts and prayers through these trying time.
George Erwin
Amy,
I was so sorry to hear of Grant’s passing. I only met him once with you, but I will keep Ella and you in my prayers and hope you will find comfort in thinking of all the wonderful times you had together.
John Grace
Amy and Ella – there are no words that will ease the pain, but I hope the wonderful memories you have will get you through. Your Savannah Tech family are all here for you when you need us.
Samuel Collum
I worked with Grant for a short time at Gulfstream Aerospace on G700 Design Team 10. Grant was always such a positive person to be around in the office, and he loved talking to me about his family, especially his daughter who he clearly loved very much. He was a really outstanding guy and I’m going to miss seeing him.
Anne Gray Heine
Dear Melba and family,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Grant sounded like a wonderful man who made a great impact on his family, friends and the Girl Scout community….. God bless you as you morn your loss while celebrating his life and many contributions. Sincerely, Anne
Steve Renshaw
Amy and Ella,
So sorry for your loss. We’re thinking and praying for you and your family. May His love, strength, and comfort be with you and guide you through the days ahead. Sending our heartfelt condolences.
Steve & Kris Renshaw
Edith Prince
Melba I am sorry for your loss I’m praying for you and your family
Fred and Shelley Brandenburg
Melba and family,
Our hearts are broken for your great loss. We haven’t seen Grant for years, and so our memories revolve around Columbia UCC where he grew up. Fond memories of youth fellowship, confirmation and campouts come to mind.
From the obit, we can see what a truly grounded, loving, hard working husband and father he became.
We send our prayers and love to all of you at this sad time. May God hold you closely now and in the times to come.
All our love, Shelley and Fred
Payton Meadows
Dear Ella and family,
I wanted to send my condolences for your loss. I’ve only meet Mr. Shaffer a couple of times but I remember he was always sweet to everyone around him. I know he helped a lot with the Girl Scouts and cared a lot about you and your family. I am so sorry for your loss and am sending prayers your way.
Steve & Jo Hadel
Dear Amy and Ella,
Though it’s been many years since we’ve seen you in the 90th Street neighborhood, your folks always keep us in the know of family events. We were saddened to hear of Grant’s death. Please know that you are being thought of and we are praying that the shock and upheaval to your lives will be short.
We didn’t realize that you were so involved with the Girl Scouts and they are certainly lucky to have such dedicated advocates. We are sure Grant’s love of the outdoors and scouting will be an unending legacy.
With deepest sympathy,
Steve and Jo Hadel
Ben Wilson
Grant was a truly wonderful friend…I will always have so many wonderful memories from our days at Hickman High…sending prayers and condolences to his family…