Aug. 6, 1961 — July 30, 2025
Bonnie Lou Shaffer, beloved mother, daughter, sister and friend, and longtime resident of Ashland, died peacefully on July 30 after a valiant battle with blood cancer.
Bonnie is survived by her son, Henry Robertson; her mother, Marlis Shaffer; her brother, Fain Shaffer; and her half-sister, Claire Shaffer.
A lover of art, music, travel, vintage clothing, and especially rescue dogs, Bonnie was born and raised in Ashland, living in a house nicknamed “Tara” because it was designed to resemble Scarlett O’Hara’s home in “Gone with the Wind.” (Her parents Marlis and Wallace Shaffer even named her after Scarlett and Rhett’s daughter.)
From Ashland, Bonnie headed to the University of Oregon and earned a degree in advertising, which she put to good use working at ad agencies in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and handling clients including Apple and Bank of America. She left agency life in 1989 to start Media Ranch, a consultancy, which gave her the freedom to pursue her passion for travel.
After trips to Tahiti and Europe, Bonnie spent a year living in Italy before returning to Ashland and studying costume design at Southern Oregon University. She met her husband, Alex Robertson, in the theater department there and, after marrying, she gave birth to her son, Henry, in 1995.
Bonnie joined the costume and wardrobe department at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 1998 and, after divorcing, she and her son moved to what would become Bonnie’s longtime home on B Street, where they adopted the first of several much-loved rescue dogs.
In 2009, Bonnie started her own business, Hats With A Past, sourcing vintage fabrics and embellishments from antique stores, and designing one-of-a-kind cloches, newsboy caps and driving caps for men and women. She earned the loyalty of clients all over the world, including from celebrities such as Samuel L. Jackson.
Bonnie will be remembered most for her kind heart, her carefree spirit, her infectious laugh, and her natural storytelling talent that could turn an ordinary day into a fascinating adventure. She leaves behind a devoted family and an army of friends who will celebrate her life.
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