Jeffers, Vera 1896-1987

JEFFERS, HUGHES

Posted By: Viv Reeves (email)
Date: 2/7/2006 at 14:34:31

From the Haxtun Herald, Haxtun, (Phillips), Colorado, March 26, 1987:
FAMILY - FRIENDS MOURN DEATH OF VERA JEFFERS

After living a life that spanned over nine decades: a life that taught her at a young age the sorrow of death, but also gave her many memories of friends and family, Vera Alice Jeffers was laid to rest in the Haxtun Cemetery on Sunday, March 22, 1987. Services officiated by Rev. Jim Davis and Rev. Marc Peterson were conducted at the United Methodist Church in Haxtun at 2:30 p.m. prior to burial.

Vera Alice Jeffers, daughter of Edward and Rebecca Wright Hughes, was born January 16, 1896 in a country home near Akron, Iowa. When she was twenty-one months old, her parents and a twelve year old brother were stricken with Typhoid fever and died within a period of two weeks of each other, leaving five orphan children. One of those, a girl, was only two weeks old.

After the death of her parents, Vera and two brothers were taken into the home of their uncle George Hughes and his wife, Elizabeth, of Seney, Iowa, where she said she was lovingly cared for until the time of her marriage.

While attending grade school in Seney, among Vera's elementary teachers were her future mother-in-law and father-in-law.

During her high school years at Merrill High School, where she would later graduate, she worked caring for a minister's children and in return received her room and board. She would take the train from Seney to Merrill on Sunday afternoon, returning on Friday evening by the same mode. Some of her fondest memories related to friends were of the fun she had on those train rides, eating her lunch and visiting with friends.

Vera told of accepting the Lord as her personal Savior at a revival meeting in the little Methodist Church in Seney. She was able to attend the 100th anniversary of that church a few years ago.

On December 29, 1915, Vera married her childhood sweetheart, William Jeffers, at her parent's home in Seney. She enjoyed telling of their courtship in a horse and buggy. She would say, "he had the finest buggy, the prettiest horse and the warmest horsehair lap robe. He would always see to it that the foot-warming brick was carefully heated and wrapped." Most of their entertainment was ice skating or hiking with a group of friends.

The couple's first home was near Merrill, and almost a year after they were married, a daughter, Rebecca Elaine, was born on Christmas Eve (actually December 26) in 1916. Eighteen (actually 14) months later Rebecca was stricken with pneumonia and with the lack of modern drugs died from it.

Vera said she prayed to God that she would have another girl, but in return He blessed them with twin sons, Clyde and Clinton. The family moved to their farm in Colorado in 1921, coming by migrant train. Bill rode with the machinery and livestock, while Vera and the twins rode in the coach car to Paoli.

Along with other pioneer families of the times, they experienced many hard times during the depression years, but Vera said they always managed to maintain a happy home, which was filled with friends on many occasions.

Her sons remember bringing friends home to sandwiches, white cake and cookies. They remember them as very relaxed times.

Vera and Bill shared a love of animals, and for several years raised bulldogs. They also welcomed many a stray into their home.

In 1963 Vera and Bill moved into their home in Haxtun. After Bill's death in 1968, Vera continued to live in the home until her health failed and she moved into the Haxtun nursing home where she resided until her death.

Vera was a member of the United Methodist Church, UMW and had taught Sunday school for several years. She was a member of PEO Sisterhood Chapter BX and the Frida Wilson Chapter Order of the Eastern Star.

Survivors include two sons, Clyde Jeffers and wife, Mildred of Haxtun and Clinton Jeffers and wife, Norma of Denver; five grandsons, Kenneth, Darwin, Mark, Brent, and Neal; one granddaughter, Lisa; 17 great grandchildren and one great great grandson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; daughter, Elaine; brothers, Ben, Lee and Ralph; and two sisters, Rebecca and Ellen.

Vera departed this life on Wednesday, March 18, 1987 at the Haxtun Hospital at the age of 91 years and two months.