Florence Schauffler

Character actress Florence Schauffler was born Florence Cornelia Brown on November 22, 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio. The first born of paternal twins, Florence attended the Hathaway Brown School for Girls and, following graduation from high school, the Erskine School in Boston, Massachusetts where her studies focused on the theatrical arts. After completing her studies in college Schauffler did summer stock at North Shore Players in Marblehead, Massachusetts. However, Florence's theatre career was temporarily put on hold due to the offset of World War II; she spent those years working in the War Department for Military Intelligence in Washington, D.C. In the late 1940's Schauffler moved to New York City and worked for the production company Theatre Inc. as well as for noted production designer Jo Mielziner. Moreover, Florence met her husband Allen Field Schauffler while living in New York City; the couple got married in 1949 and moved to rural John Day, Oregon where they worked on a ranch owned by her husband's family. Schauffler and her husband moved to Pullman, Washington where her husband attended veterinary school while Schauffler worked as a secretary. The couple opened The Verde Veterinary Hospital in the Verde Valley/ Sedona area in Arizona. Moreover, Florence was an accomplished horsewoman, an early member of the Verde Valley Roverettes (she became their first drill captain), and helped found the Verde Valley Guidance Clinic (she also served as a board member). Schauffler and her husband parted ways in 1978, but remained friends. Florence subsequently moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and took courses in theatre arts at Scottsdale Community College. Schauffler then moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue an acting career in stage, film, and television; she's especially memorable as creepy old witch Haggis in the horror cult favorite Pumpkinhead (1988). Florence returned to Verde Valley at age 75 and lived with her daughter Jennifer and a son-in-law in Clarkdale, Arizona. In addition, Schauffler did volunteer work for Meals on Wheels through the Verde Valley Senior Center until the age of 86. Florence in her senior years also lent her talent to three film projects and a dance theatre production whose development and performance phases spanned two years. Schauffler died at age 97 on December 24, 2017 in Clarkdale, Arizona. She was survived by her daughter Jennifer, son Dana, grandchildren Antonia, Allen, and Clinton, and daughter-in-law Michel.