Florence Matheny of Toddville, Iowa, comes west in 1945 to attend college at Seattle Pacific College (SPC) in Seattle, Washington. She hears that the famous Doolittle Flyer Jacob DeShazer will be attending SPC as well. The two of them meet at social events in the fall, but don't begin dating until the spring. They get engaged in June of 1946 and are married in August 1946. Their first child, son Paul, is born in 1947.
Florence supports Jacob’s goal of returning to Japan wholeheartedly, joining him in taking Japanese language and culture classes while at SPC. They both complete their degrees in 1948, graduating in the summer of that year. While finishing their degrees at SPC, the DeShazers apply to the Free Methodist Mission Board to be sent to Japan. Their request is granted and they, with little Paul, set sail for Japan in December 1948.
Submissions from 1945
Letter October 4, 1945, Florence DeShazer
Letter November 15, 1945, Florence DeShazer
DeShazer Relates Experiences, Seattle Pacific College
Letter November 26, 1945, Florence DeShazer
Submissions from 1946
I Was a Prisoner of Japan, Jacob DeShazer and Bible Meditation League
Letter May 12, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Letter May 15, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Letter May 25, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Hear DeShazer, unknown
Letter June 3, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Letter June 18, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Letter June 23, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Letter June 30, 1946, Florence DeShazer
DeShazer-Matheny Wedding Invitation, Florence DeShazer
Letter August 6, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Letter August 27, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Letter September 7, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Letter September 29, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Intensive Instruction in the Japanese Language and Japanese Culture, Seattle Pacific College
Letter October 3, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Letter October 31, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Letter December 4, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Letter December 19, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Letter December 25, 1946, Florence DeShazer
Submissions from 1947
Letter January 4, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter January 12, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Girl All-Stars Chosen by Players, Falcon Staff
Letter January 24, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Girls' Sports, February 14, 1947, Falcon Staff
Girls' Sports, February 28, 1947, Falcon Staff
Letter March 2, 1947, Jacob DeShazer
Letter March 11, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Girls' Sports, March 14, 1947, Falcon Staff
Looking Back, Falcon Staff
Letter March 23, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter April 7, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter April 18, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter April 28, 1947, Burton L. Beegle
Letter May 5, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter May 26, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Famous Doolittle Flyer, Seattle Pacific College
Letter June 4, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter June 24, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter July 1, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter July 8, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter July 18, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter July 26, 1947, Florence DeShazer
New Departments Being Featured - Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Radio, Flying, Journalism and Violin, Seattle Pacific College
Letter August 2, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter August 13, 1947, Edward F. Witsell
Letter September 4, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter September 8, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter September 22, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter September 25, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter October 7, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter October 13, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter October 15, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Dot'N Dash, Dorthea Hurst
Letter November 8, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Letter December 11, 1947, Florence DeShazer
Submissions from 1948
Letter January 2, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter January 9, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter January 13, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter January 15, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter January 19, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter January 28, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter February 11, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter February 19, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter February 24, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter March 11, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter March 30, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter April 14, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter May 25, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter circa June 1948, Florence DeShazer
Fifty-Sixth Commencement of Seattle Pacific College, 1948, Seattle Pacific College
Letter July 28, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter August 12, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Thirty-Seven Summer Session Graduates, Seattle Pacific College
DeShazers to Sail for Japan Soon, Free Methodist Church
Letter November 10, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter circa November 15, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter November 17, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Letter November 23, 1948, Florence DeShazer
Active SPC Missionaries Today, Seattle Pacific College
Letter circa December 1, 1948, Florence DeShazer