Sylvia May, daughter of Floretta and Edward Wolfe, was born near Astoria, Illinois on October 14, 1889 and departed this life at the Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center, Iowa on February 25, 1976 at the age of 86 years, 4 months and 11 days, following a sudden heart attack. In her early years she travelled with her parents and sister and brother in a covered wagon from Illinois to Iowa. They located near Bear Grove in Guthrie County where she grew to womanhood and attended the Bear Grove Schools. On October 19, 1910 she was united in marriage to Arthur Shaefer and they made their home on a farm near Adair for 10 years before moving to the Stuart area. Four children were born to this union. Sylvia was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church in Stuart where she served for several years on the official board and taught a Sunday School class until last fall. She also held offices in the Women’s Society and was active in the Rebekah Lodge. She was a lover of nature and enjoyed working with livestock on the farm before retiring to town. She read extensively and studied the Bible daily. Much time was devoted to her grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, Arthur, one daughter Mabel Ratliff, and a brother, Sid Wolfe. She leaves to mourn her passing two daughters, Mildred McLuen of Stuart Iowa, Lena Roberts of Goshen, Utah, one son, Everett of Malvern, Pennsylvania; two sisters, Margaret Moor and Hallie Heise of Guthrie Center, Iowa; five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, plus a host of relatives and friends.
