Joshua Geoffrey Shaffner, 24, slipped away from us Wednesday, January 7th. Known for his smile, he will be missed for lighting up a room and making friends with everyone he met. He was a kind and loving person who was happiest when surrounded by as many friends and family as possible. His humor and fun loving spirit will be missed by all. It is impossible to describe this gentle soul. His memory will always live on in our hearts.

Josh was born March 30, 1990, in Minot, North Dakota. When he was 3 years old, he moved with his family to Vandenberg AFB and then, later to Santa Maria, CA. He attended Los Padres and Battles Elementary, Fesler Junior High and St. Joseph High School, graduating in 2008. He was and always will be a proud SJHS Knight.

During grade school and high school, Josh was active in 4-H and participated in football and track. Later in life, he enjoyed skiing and snowboarding. He graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. At the time of his death, he was employed by FedEx and the City of Santa Maria Parks and Recreation Department.

He is survived by his immediate family including parents, Jeff and Amy Shaffner (Santa Maria, CA), his brother, Jerrod (Bismarck, ND), and his grandparents, Norm and Carol Shaffner (Portland, OR) as well as his many aunts and uncles (Don and Kelly Brown, Norfolk, MA; Cindy Ashman, Kansas City, MO; Deb Johnson, Grand Forks, ND; Jeff Lipsky and Kristy Skaar, Vail, AZ; Maren Ehley, Linton, ND; and Neil and Tracy Skaar, Rugby, ND). He will be missed by his cousins Bodhey, Blaine, Kari, Ellie, Jordan and Jesse.

Josh's closest friends will be honorary pallbearers to show their love and respect for their best friend. These friends include Bobby Harper, Evan Domingues, Ryan Baldwin, Elias Posada, Joseph Fischer-Ortiz, Erik Castro, Nick Boster and Matthew Santos. His other friends, who are too numerous to name, will embrace Josh through their thoughts.

A celebration of Josh's life will be Thursday afternoon (January 15th) at 3:30 pm at the Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. Joseph High School or to the memorial fund in his name at Coast Hills Federal Credit Union (donations can be made to the Joshua Shaffner memorial fund in care of Jeff and Amy Shaffner at any Coast Hills Federal Credit Union branch).