| Short Bio | https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/montgomeryadvertiser/name/jeanne-shaffer-obituary?id=39132431
Dr. Jeanne E. SHAFFER, localsinger, composer, radio host,and college professor, diedon Monday, April 9th at theage of 81. Dr. Shaffer, born inKnoxville, Tennessee on May25th, 1925, became involvedin music professionally at theage of four as a singer on radio. She subsequently signeda five-year contract to singwith the Paul Whiteman Orchestra at age eleven andhad a role in the MGM movie""Girl of the Golden West"" atthe age of 12. Shaffer helddegrees from Stephens College, Samford University, Birmingham Southern Collegeand a Ph.D. from VanderbiltUniversity's Peabody College.Her compositions have beenperformed in concert halls,theaters, and churchesaround the world. Dr. Shafferhosted and produced aweekly hour long radio program on women composersentitled, ""Eine Kleine Frauenmusic"", on Southeastern Public Radio for ten years. From1976 to 1989 she was a professor of music and the Chair ofthe Visual and Performing ArtsDepartment at HuntingdonCollege in Montgomery, Alabama. While at Huntingdonshe and Col. Barmettler ran aSummer Repertory Theater for8 years. They started and sustained the Montgomery Performing Arts Company andstarted the MontgomerySchool of Fine Arts which operated for 15 years. Theywere ""on the road"" togetheras actors from 1989 to 1996.Dr. Shaffer was organist, choirdirector, and long time member of All Saints' EpiscopalChurch. Her last commissioned work, a tribute to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, was performed in London in 2005.Shaffer was preceded indeath by her mother, DorothyM. Ellison Butcher Black; herfather, James H. Butcher; andher husband, Loran O. Shaffer. She is survived by herhusband, Col. Robert S. Barmettler; five children: Jeannette E. Sowman, Beverly A.Shaffer, Madolyn K. Griffin,Larry O. Shaffer, and MalindaL. Farrington; two step-daughters: Babette L. Barmettler, Heidi B. Eldred; hersister and brother-in-law Beverly and Lee H. Webb; ninegrandchildren; five step-grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and twonephews. In lieu of flowers,contributions may be madeto: Baptist Hospice, the National Museum of Women inthe Arts in Washington, D.C.,Montgomery Aids Outreach,or All Saints' EpiscopalChurch. Visitation will be heldat All Saints on Friday, April27th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Amemorial service in thanksgiving for the life of Dr.Jeanne E. Shaffer will be heldat All Saints' Episcopal Churchon Saturday, April 28th at11:00 a.m. with Rev. James E.Wallace officiating. |
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