David Lee Shafer Sr., born on September 30, 1939 in West Easton, Pennsylvania, passed away at age 78 on August 24, 2018 in Leesburg, Florida. His family had a long and rich history in and around Lehigh and Northampton Counties, founding Hellertown and Seipsville, and the Lower Saucon Valley in the early to mid 1700s. All of his forefathers served in the military, representing every war or conflict in the county's history. Dave served for the United States Army, stationed in Neckarsulm, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany in the1960s. He attended both Eastside High School in Paterson, NJ, and Hawthorne HS in NJ, where he was graduated in 1957. He later completed coursework in Criminal Justice and Applied Sciences. He was active in his father's Exxon (Esso) stations in Newfoundland, NJ, and, at one time owned two gas stations in Pompton Lakes, NJ on the corners of Wanaque and Lenox Avenues. He was also graduated from The State Police Academy in Sea Girt, NJ in 1972, after which time he began his career as Patrolman and was later promoted to Sergeant on the Pompton Lakes Police Department, where he served until his retirement. When his children were younger, he was active in the Royal Rangers program at Midvale Gospel Church. In his adult years, he resided in Northern NJ, primarily in Wanaque, Pompton Lakes, and Pompton Plains before spending time after retirement in the Poconos and then finally for the last 15 years in Leesburg, Florida. He was an avid musician, a gift acquired from his parents, and a fan of true country and western. His avocation was singing and playing the guitar and steel guitar in his spare time. When he was younger, he cut an album under the stage name Lee Davis, singing and playing with his friends Dinkie Laurie and Fred Roughgarden, Sr. Dave released 3 songs and appeared on a couple album compilations, as well. He regaled his children with stories of meeting and playing with Chester and Lester, and going to and sometimes performing at the Elbow Room in NJ. But his main role model in C&W was Johnny Cash, the love of which he passed to most of his children. Family tradition was that he sang I Walk the Line with his sons and sons in law at his children's weddings. Spare time was spent in a love-hate relationship with The Dallas Cowboys, and also as an avid gardner. He maintained gardens in his home in Pompton Plains, particularly fond of growing tulips after his visit to Holland, MI while his daughters attended Calvin College. In later years, he maintained several plots of vegetable gardens in Leesburg. He was predeceased by his mother Pauline Banko Gunther, his step-father Robert Gunther, his father Elwood Clyde Shafer, his step-mother Shirley Salveson Shafer, his brother Richard, his sister Carol, and his first born daughter. He was survived by his sisters Betty Jean and Linda, brother Larry and his wife Deena, former spouses Lois (Lee) Shafer and Barbara (Vallette) Shafer and current spouse, Joan (Cosentino Perrerra Durgin) Shafer. Also survived by his children Stephen, David, Pamela, Valeri, Deborah, Raymond, and Kristy, and his 14 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. Also surviving are his two step-children, Sheralee Durgin (and her two sons Aaron Nyswonger and Grant Dekker, and her granddaughter, McKenzie) and step-son Christopher Durgin from his wife, Joan's, former marriage. His children held a memorial service August 30th in NJ, where David served as a policeman for almost three decades, and held a celebration of life afterwards at Seipsville Inn, Pennsylvania, which was originally built in 1760 by David's 5th great grandfather, Peter Seip. A private military and memorial service to celebrate his homegoing was held in Leesburg, Florida at the end of September, and inurnment will be in Bushnell, FL at the National Cemetery.