Mary June Schaeffer, of Raleigh, NC, passed away at the age of 98 on Oct. 8, 2025, at WakeMed Hospital, Raleigh. She was born to Helen (nee Hertzog) and William Schaeffer in Mount Zion, Lebanon County, PA, on June 17, 1927.
Mary was the last surviving member of the Myerstown High Class of 1945. After graduation, she began her working career at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA. Her lifework took her all over the United States and the world. She lived in Washington, D.C., Nashville, Colorado Springs, Dayton, Germany, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Mary was a civilian employee for the Air Force, working for the Office of Special Investigations (OSI). As an executive secretary, she was involved in the debriefing of the American hostages taken by Iran in 1979. They were released when President Reagan took office, to a hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany, where Mary was stationed at Ramstein Air Base. She traveled to many countries while working for OSI and on holiday, and was an enthusiastic European Volksmarcher.
Mary relocated to the Raleigh area when she moved back to the United States in the late 80s, leading to her 12-year employment with the State of North Carolina. Besides her career and traveling, she enjoyed music, reading, gardening, good food, wine, and socializing with friends. Mary embraced many aspects of life, living independently until age 95 when she moved to an assisted living facility.
Mary is survived by her sister, Grace Schaeffer Bicher, of Myerstown, PA; nephews, Gary, Doug, Dane, and Greg Bicher; and nine great-nephews and -nieces.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at 12 p.m., in the family plot at Zion Gosherts Church, 1588 Mount Zion Road, Lebanon, PA 17046.
