Billy Robert Shafford, beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away after a long struggle with cancer on February 24, 2007, one day before his 77th birthday. A rosary is scheduled for Tuesday, February 27 at 7:00 pm at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Johnson City. A memorial mass is scheduled for Thursday, March first at 10:00 am, again at Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Fr. Nich Ejimabo will officiate at mass, assisted by Fr. Jim Harnan. Bill was born on February 25, 1930 in Liberal, Kansas. He was the fifth of seven children of Charles Lewis Shafford and Wilda Davis Shafford. While he was a boy, the family moved from Liberal to Moscow, KS, Hugoton, KS, and then to Manor, Texas. Bill went to school in Manor, graduating high school in 1948, after lettering on the basketball team. In Manor, he developed a lifelong love of hunting and the outdoors. He joined the Army Corps of Engineers and served during the start of the Korean conflict. He was honorably discharged, and came to Austin. There, he gained employment at the University of Texas at Austin in the Power Generation Plant, where he rose to the level of Shift Supervisor over a 34 year career. In 1960, Bill met Theresa Joan Plisek, the love of his life. After a whirlwind romance, they were married on January 14, 1961. On November 20, 1961, Bill and Joan were blessed with a baby girl, Kathleen Suzanne (Katie). On October 16, 1962, a second child, William Joseph (Billy Joe) was born. Bill and Joan retired to acreage in Blanco after raising the children and getting them through the University of Texas. He converted to Catholicism, was baptized and was confirmed in 1994.Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Charles Dwight and wife Nancy, and his sisters Velma and husband Pat Frazier, Frances and husband Marvin Smith, Betty and husband Charles Toole, Irene, and Bobbi Jo, and husband Bill Leonard. Bill is survived by his wife Joan, his children Katie along with Billy Joe and wife Rebecca, and three grandchildren - Lauren, Emily and Charlie. He is also survived by one brother-in-law, Joe Touchet, husband of Irene. Bill is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Bill was particularly close to his cousin Don, and his wife Polly, who introduced Bill to Joan in 1960.Bill has had a particularly difficult and painful struggle over the last few years, and the family would like to thank the staffs of the Fredericksburg and Kerrville hospitals, and the many, many friends and neighbors in Blanco and Johnson City that gave Bill their love and support over the last few years.