Beginning at 2:00pm on Saturday, September 24, the memorial service for Mrs. Shaffer-Duey may be viewed here. Constance Suzanne (Crane) Shaffer-Duey was born in Boise, Idaho, to Kenneth and Eleanor (Harris) Crane on May 3, 1953. On September 8, 2022, she was embraced by her Lord, Jesus Christ, and ushered into a realm of colors, beauty, and love that exceeds our ability to imagine. Then He reunited her with those who had gone before, whom she had loved so dearlyimagine the rejoicing! Before Connie was old enough to remember, Kelly and Eleanor moved with their daughter to Pasadena, California, and her idyllic childhood began. The beautiful flowers and trees, the beaches, the mountains, the cabin at Lake Arrowhead, and the canyons of the foothills all instilled in Connie a love for Gods creation. She also had a need to be grounded in it, either barefoot in the sand or digging in the soil to plant the flowers and trees that she so loved. With four grandparents who were either ministers, song evangelists, or both, Connie had a strong spiritual foundation that continued to be built upon at Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene and the Christian school she attended until high school. She also had the strong influence of her Gram Harris whom she stayed with while her parents were at work. She spoke often of things Gram had said and done that instilled in her a desire to know, love, and please her Heavenly Father. Moving from a small Christian school to a large, public high school was a traumatic shock at a vulnerable time in her life so the church youth group and, especially the Christian Minstrels traveling choir, became very important. She had a beautiful voice. Connies brother, Steve, talks about her singing with their parents any time the family was traveling in the car. And if the car was moving, she wanted to be in it! After graduating from high school, Connie started college. But after a few semesters and being unsure of the course she wanted to pursue, she decided to work and save money before resuming her studies. During that time, while working as the receptionist at the church, she took a call from a man who had recently returned to Christ after a season of rebellion, and wanted to visit with the pastor. It was a memorable call for her because this man chose to stay on the line 45 minutes until the pastor was finally available. Those who knew Kent Shaffer would not be surprised. Kent and Connie were married in November, 1988, and the adventure began. First, Nathanael, then Nicolas, and finally, Noel joined Kent and Connie to complete the Shaffer family. Spending time with Connie, one soon learned that she was a fearless adventurer; she always preferred the longer, less traveled way home. But a mothers care and concern for three little boys can cause adventures to be especially challenging for her. The highlighted passages and accompanying notes in Connies Bible reflect the burden of those challenges and her sincerity in striving to be the wife and mother her four guys needed. From the day each was born until the moment of her death, Nate, Nic, and Noel were Connies pride, joy, and purpose. With Kents death in September, 2007, Connie had to become the provider as well as mother. When speaking of those times, she would say that she just kept pedaling, but life is not that simple. A lesser person would have been crushed, embittered, or just given up. Connie submitted, not to the circumstances, but to her Lord. The deep love she had for her sons and the strength of her faith sustained her through those most difficult years. With love for both Kent and Connie, many helped her in a variety of ways. Kents sister, Sherry, embraced Connie, becoming her confidante and chief encourager as they mourned together this man who had been such a huge part of each of their lives. They became "sisters" in the best sense of the word. Vic Diffee was especially generous in his assistance and also offered Connie employment at his dealership. For Connie, Diffee Ford Lincoln became her place of ministry as well as her employer. Fellow employees became family, and customers became friends. Regardless of the need, Connie looked for a way to assist, to extend kindness and encouragement, and to bring peace where there was strife. Then there were the flower arrangements! Every week Connie would relish the opportunity to create arrangements that would beautify the dealership and bring smiles of appreciation for the flowers and plants her Father had created. Early in 2021, an old friendship developed into an unexpected romance, and Connies life took another turn when she married Carl Duey in a beautiful October evening wedding. During the next eleven months, the days were filled with youthful joy and companionshipa honeymoon in Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon; morning coffee, devotions, and prayer together in the Adirondack chairs in her garden; going to Victory Church together, then serving as a greeter; enjoying Sunday brunch, sometimes with family or friends; trips to visit family; riding Segways in San Antonio and Sea-Doos on Table Rock Lake; talking about God and thanking Him for the surprises He had planned for each day; and at the end of many days, sitting together and watching stunning sunsets over Lake Overholser. Connie was an artist who saw beauty in everything from the backlit clouds to a leaf that had just fallen from a tree. She loved Jesus, and she loved the people He had died to redeem, so its not surprising that His joy and love emanated from her. She was a lovely and precious light in our lives for a season. We are so grateful and forever changed. Connie was reunited in heaven with her son, Noel; her husband, Kent; her parents; and her grandparents. She is survived by her husband, Carl; son, Nathanael; son, Nicolas (Rachael Baalman); brother, Stephen Crane (LuAnne); sister-in-law, Sherlene Ranger (Todd); step-daughter, Shelley Reedy (Dennis); step-son, James Duey; and step-son, Rick Duey (Amy). Celebration of Life service will be Saturday, September 24, 2:00 p.m. at Victory Church, 4300 N. MacArthur Blvd., Oklahoma City. . Memorial Service Victory Church Saturday, September 24, 2022 2:00 PM 4300 N. MacArthur Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73122