Danny Ray Schaefer went home to be with his Heavenly Father on June 15, 2024. He was born on October 12, 1948, to Don Stanley Schaefer and Charlene Joy Long. Danny graduated from Rising Star High School in 1967. He played high school football, ran track, and enjoyed playing the trumpet. While a youth growing up on his family farm and ranch in Romney, Texas, he and his family were once honored as the Eastland County farmers and ranchers of the year. After high school, he graduated from Cisco College. While at Cisco College, he had his own music radio show at a station in Breckenridge, Texas, called the Dan Schaefer Show. He married Frances Elaine Stephan on February 27, 1971. After college, he joined the Air Force at the height of the Vietnam War, where he served in the Vietnam Theatre of combat and support. He graduated from the University of Maryland College of the Air Force. He was a Master Technician in Airborne Radar and Avionics. While in the Air Force, he obtained his private pilot’s license and once landed a Cessna on a coastal field on his parents’ ranch. His work life after the Vietnam War included Gearhart-Owen/Go-Wire Line Service open hole logging technician, Ensearch Exploration/Production Management, as well as contract oil field services and completion services. He was also a Regional Sales Manager in the medical supply business. He served his community as a board member of the Cisco Economic Development Corporation, Cisco Lobo athletic boosters, and was the cameraman for the Cisco Loboes Football team for many years. As a youth, he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and was baptized near his family ranch in Romney, Texas. As a result of his faith, he served as the Sunday School Superintendent at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Danny enjoyed gunsmithing, hunting, fishing, shooting sports, and spending time with his eight grandchildren and three sons.
Danny was preceded in death by his father, Don, his brother, Craig, and his grandparents, Conrad Schaefer, Effie (Broyles) Schaefer, Olive D. Schaefer, and Raleigh and Lorene (Shook) Long.
He is survived by his mother, Charlene Rider (Long/Schaefer), wife Elaine Schaefer, brother Ricky Schaefer, son Sean and wife Erin, son Matt and his wife Jasilyn Schaefer, and son David and his wife Amanda Schaefer. He is also survived by his grandchildren Christian Schaefer and wife Lara, Kaitlyn Schaefer, Ryker Schaefer, Liesel Schaefer, Rhett Schaefer, Rayden Schaefer, Quincy Schaefer, and Graham Schaefer. Memorials in Danny’s memory can be made to Calvary Baptist Church in Cisco, Texas.
Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
Condolences for the family may be left at: www.edwards-funeral-homes.com.
