Surrounded by family, Carole Judith Schafer of Bayside, passed from this earth into the gates of heaven on Friday, November 8, 2024, at the age of 80.

Carole was born in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 17, 1944. She grew up in Lodi, California with her parents, Harry and Vera Christensen, and siblings Lewis Christensen, Gary (Amy Lou) Christensen and Jan Christensen. After she graduated high school, she met her husband Forrest Arthur Schafer when they were paired together as tennis partners. Forrest & Carole married and moved to Bayside, where they proceeded to be lifelong partners. They would have celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on June 26.

When they arrived in Humboldt, Carole began working at Eureka Orthopedic Group for Doctors Hitchko and Grigorieff. A short two years later her and Forrest began their family which prompted her to leave their employ to raise her children and run a daycare out of her home. After 16 years and countless children (she often recalled that half the children on the Freshwater Elementary School bus got off at her driveway), she gave up daycare and went back to working outside of the home, processing claims at Humboldt Del Norte Foundation for Medical Care (now known as Humboldt IPA). She retired from there after more than 10 years to join Forrest with their real pride and joy, spending time with their grandchildren. 

Carole had many hobbies. She loved spending time in her garden tending to her roses and her old English garden berm. She liked doing all kinds of arts and crafts, and met many cherished friends in ceramics, painting, and quilting classes. To the family she was a seamstress extraordinaire. Her grandchildren will forever fondly remember the countless costumes and matching pajamas & holiday outfits. Her favorite past times were reading, watching her favorite programs & movies and playing games with friends and family. She also enjoyed her monthly Good Sams RV Group trips with Forrest and her dogs Molly & Macy. Carole was a very devoted mother, grandmother and friend. She was always there for those that meant the world to her.

Carole is survived by her children Cristine Duncan, Jeff Schafer (Chloe) & Amy La Jeunesse (Joseph), her grandchildren, Shelbye Duncan (Waylan), Brooke Cabrera (Juan), Kindyl Wildrick (Tyler), Bryce Schafer (Hilanea), Riley Secor (Marissa), Joshua Duncan, Micah Duncan, Alexis La Jeunesse, & Joseph Jamie “JJ” La Jeunesse, and her great-grandchildren, Braelynn Cabrera, Jaxson Cabrera and Violet Schafer. Carole was preceded in death by her husband, Forrest Schafer, her mother, Vera Christensen, her father Harry Christensen and her brother, Lewis Christensen. 

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 25 at the Lutheran Church of Arcata, 151 East 16th Street, Arcata, California, with a reception immediately following. The family will have a private interment at 2:00 pm.   

In keeping with Carole & Forrest’s wishes the family asks, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Humboldt County Search & Rescue (P.O. Box 410, Eureka, CA 95502) or the Lutheran Church of Arcata (151 East 16th Street, Arcata, CA 95521).

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Carole Schafer’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.