Cathy (Prince) Shaffer

Cathy Shaffer, 59, transitioned peacefully on April 23, 2025 . She was born on May 19, 1965 in Kansas City, Kansas to Ulysses Prince and Catherine Prince. She was proceeded in death by her husband Willie Shaffer III and her parents, Ulysses and Catherine

Cathy grew up in Kansas City, Kansas and attended school in the KCK public school system. She graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1983. She was a “Bulldog” for life and had reconnected with several high school friends at a recent class reunion. After graduating from high school, she began attending KCKCC where she met the love of her life, Willie Shaffer III. Cathy and Willie married in 1987 and they settled into their first apartment in Shawnee Kansas. In 1992 they welcomed their daughter, DiShon. Their son, Caleb, completed their family 3 short years later. Cathy was a dedicated worker at Children’s Mercy Hospital where she worked as an intake receptionist at the eye clinic. Always wanting to better herself, she began taking classes to become a respiratory therapist. She accomplished this goal and after graduation she began working at Providence Medical Center. She continued to work at Providence as a respiratory therapist until her health began to fail.

In addition to Cathy’s work outside the home she also worked tirelessly by her husband’s side as the First Lady of Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church for several years. She sang in the choir, worked with the church youth in the Kaw Valley mission organization and helped fulfill the needs of the congregants.

After the untimely death of her beloved husband, Willie, in 2015, Cathy started a new chapter in her life. She surrounded herself with family and friends and vowed to travel and enjoy life.

To her family she will be remembered for her intense love of her children and family. She will always be remembered for her comforting meals and cakes. Anyone who ever met her would say she had a smile that would light up any room. Cathy was stylish, chic, fashionable, and nonetheless well dressed. To those who knew and loved Cathy, she will be fondly remembered for her willingness to open her heart and home to DiShon and Caleb’s friends. She will forever be thought of as a second mother to many of them (Brittany Gillom, Jara Davis, ShiAnna Cooper, Cierrhia Douglas, and many more) To her closest and most dear friends Ms.Billie and Ms. Rarla who “rode with her until the wheels fell off” she will be missed for her outings and day shopping . For all those who knew her and her long-fought battle with cancer, she will be remembered for her strength and courage.

Left to cherish those memories of Cathy are her children; DiShon Shaffer (Jaeshall ), Caleb Shaffer, grandchildren, SaMiya Davis, JaNiya Barnett, Samir Davis and GiGi to many others. Siblings Eric Prince (Sheila), Michael Prince, Kimberly Prince-Matthews (Herbert), Christopher Prince (Kim), Cedric Prince, brother-in-law, Derrick Shaffer (Monica), and Mother in-law, Louritha Shaffer. Nieces; Erikka Prince, Malia Prince, Ashli Dye(Damon) and Cassia Shaffer. Nephews: Carlos Coleman, Dominique Coleman,Eric Prince Jr., and Abram Shaffer. Also, a host of aunts, uncles, friends, and cousins.

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