Shaver, Lori Ann

Lori lived at a Discovery Living group home for the past 25 years. She always loved her home, all the roommates she lived with, the friends she made, and all the wonderful and caring staff that have had a part in her care over all of these years. Our family says Thank You to each and every one of you for all of the help and love you gave her. Lori worked at Options for the past 25 years and always enjoyed going to work. One of her favorite jobs was shredding paper and talking to her friends.

Our family will always cherish the wonderful memories of Lori. We will never forget her BIG beautiful smile, contagious laugh, or her love of talking on the phone. We will fondly remember her calling her mom every Wednesday and her love of Elmo and teddy bears. Lori always looked forward to her camping experience at Camp Courageous where she enjoyed doing arts and crafts which she would proudly bring home to her mother. She enjoyed shopping and going out to eat with Mom and Mary to McDonalds or Happy Joe's. She always treasured watching a movie while eating popcorn and M&M's.

Lori loved participating in the Special Olympics and competing in her wheelchair. We will always remember her advancement to state competition where she won a gold medal. She loved the “Little House on the Prairie” book and TV series, and the book, “Are You My Mother?”. Lori always loved eating her mom's goulash, pumpkin pie and cookies. Her favorite color was yellow like the sun. Lori was blind so she loved her talking watch, books on tape, and listening to music by Kenny Rogers, John Denver, and Johnny Cash. Lori would always nap well after she ate her favorite treat of vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup and Diet Coke.

The family would like to thank Mary Hand, who was Lori's House Coordinator. There are just no words to say how our hearts feel. You are a wonderful, caring and loving person to all of those with special needs. We have been so blessed to have you in our lives and family. Thank you for everything you have done for Lori and her family. We love you.

A special thanks to Hospice of Mercy and all the doctors who cared for Lori over the years. We will always remember the wonderful care and love you gave her. We would like to especially thank our family physician, Dr. Alberts, and Dr. Wheaton who always made Lori's visit a special day.

Everything that made Lori special will live on in us through our thoughts and memories. Lori touched so many lives with her smile, laugh, and love. We know that Lori is now having a great reunion with her dad. Lori leaves us with this message she often heard from her dad: Be brave. We will all miss you, Lori, and love you so much, our Beautiful Special Angel.

Instead of flowers memorials may be given to Discovery Living, Camp Courageous, or the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy.

Online condolences may be left for the family at

Published March 4, 2012 in The Gazette