Home Of: Andy and Elaine Shaffer

RANGELY | Andy and Elaine Shaffer are happy to call Rangely home. Elaine has no choice as she was born in Rangely District Hospital. Andy was born in Pueblo, but he moved to Rangely in 1990 to attend aviation technology school.
Both attended Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely; Andy earning his associate’s degree in aviation technology and Elaine with her associate’s degrees in liberal arts, allied health and dental hygiene.
The couple will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary on July 24, and from their union the Shaffers have two children. Older daughter Sidney is 14 and will be a freshman at Rangely High School this fall. Braxton, 5, will be in kindergarten at Parkview Elementary School.
Elaine works as a dental hygienist at the office of Dr. Brian Spendlove in Vernal, Utah.
Of Andy, Elaine said, “He got his pilot’s license and he worked as a student instructor at CNCC for a few years. However, with his degree in aviation technology, we realized we would have to move to a larger city in order to make use of his training. We didn’t want to leave.”
Andy obtained his electrical license and is now in systems operations for Summit Midstream Partners.
As far as community service is concerned, Andy has been with the Rangely Fire Department for 20 years and has been fire chief for about three and a half years.
Elaine started out as a volunteer at the fire department too, but after a couple of years it became too much to handle, she said.
As far as hobbies go, Elaine likes to dance.
“I made the University of Northern Colorado dance team in Greeley without any formal training, and I danced my way through college,” she said. “The Denver Broncos do their fall practice in Greeley and we were asked to perform at halftime of a Broncos game. That was a big thrill.
“We also used to do halftimes at area high schools, and dancing is still something I love.”
Andy enjoys baseball, wrestling and “we still water ski whenever possible,” Elaine said.
Andy has been assistant wrestling coach at Rangely High School and he has coached a softball team for six years — this year with girls from Meeker, Rangely, Parachute and Rifle.
“As a matter of fact, the team won the Junior League District 1 Softball Championships in Grand Junction last weekend, enabling the team to qualify for this weekend’s state tournament in Denver,” Elaine said. “If we are fortunate enough to win there, we will play at nationals.”
“There are so many things Andy and I love about Rangely,” Elaine said. “I can leave home on a bike or four-wheeler on be on BLM land within five minutes. The lake is a short distance, hunting and fishing are five minute away, four wheeling is five minutes away and I truly feel the kids are safe here.
“The people here in Rangely are awesome,” she said. “We have great neighbors and everyone in town is friendly.”
The special event highlight of Elaine’s life came in 2006, when the Shaffers were able to watch a shuttle launch in 2006 at Cape Canaveral.
“That was great; really special,” she said. “We were able to get a good view of the launch and we were even able to see the booster rockets come off.”