James A. "Jim" Schaffhauser

James Alan “Jim” Schaffhauser passed away at his home in Baton Rouge on November 17, 2023.  He was born in Helena, Arkansas on January 30, 1949.  A 1967 graduate of Marvell High School, he went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in political science from Memphis State in 1971. He became a CPA in 1991, along with his dear friend, former Baton Rouge Mayor Bobby Simpson, through a special program offered by LSU.  His career in business administration and accounting spanned almost 40 years and allowed him to work for well-known brands including Sherwin-Williams, PPG Paints (through AWC Coatings), Community Coffee and Beretta USA.

He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Kathy Hargis Schaffhauser. Their life together started in 1986, in Baton Rouge.  After fourteen years of being with Louisiana family and friends, they ventured to Maryland in 2001 for a job opportunity for Kathy. Then following the lead of good friends, Dennis and Susan Martinez, decided to build a retirement home overlooking Lake Alfred in Central Florida. Jim lived alone in the new house for five years while Kathy continued to work in DC, until she retired in 2020. Just two years later, both longing to be closer to family in Arkansas and Louisiana (and, of course, the good food) they sold the new house and moved back to Baton Rouge in February of this year, just four months before Jim was diagnosed with the brain tumor that brought us sadly to this day.

Jim is also survived by one brother, John Arnold Schaffhauser and his wife Audrey; two nephews: Charles Thomas “Chuck” Schaffhauser, his wife Beth, and their son, Luke Schaffhauser, and daughter, Emma Schaffhauser Hatchett and her two children, Blakely and Clyde; and David Allen Schaffhauser; and by three nieces, Elaine Schaffhauser Abelrahim, Connie Schaffhauser Salter, and Melissa Schaffhauser Childers and their children.

His life was blessed by several life-long friends including G W Suddath, Sherry Lynn Kemmer, Michael Gallagher and Lloyd Wright, and by a host of loving “in-laws,” the over 50-member family of the late Joe and Helen Hargis.  He enjoyed good food, playing golf, singing in the church choir for many years and his many other friends in Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, Virginia and across the country.

He was preceded in death by his father, Arnold Charles Schaffhauser, his mother, Malissia Fielder Schaffhauser and two nephews, John Arnold “Bubba” Schaffhauser, Jr. and Michael Scott Schaffhauser. 

As Jim once said of his late father-in-law so it can be said of him, “He was a gentleman and also a gentle man”.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a Service at 7:00 p.m.  A Graveside Service will be held on Monday, November 27th at 1:00 p.m. at the Schaffhauser Family Cemetery in Marvell, Arkansas.  The Marvell United Methodist Church will host a luncheon for family and friends at 11:30 a.m. 

For those so desiring and in lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Jim Schaffhauser may be made to your favorite charity of choice. 

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.