Isiah Jefferson, Jr. was the third son born to Isiah and Evelyn Jefferson on May 1st, 1947, in Hartville, Missouri. Donald was the eldest and Carl was the second son. Isiah and Evelyn wanted a girl and, so it was, they had seven girls in a row with no more boys. Their daughters were Wanda, Audrey, Mary Alice, Ivy, Eula, Erma and Darlene.

Jeff, as he was soon to be called, grew up raising rabbits, chickens and pigeons. He attended Ralph Bunche Elementary School, Carver Middle School and Marion Anderson Junior High School. He lived with his Uncle Joe's family in Springfield, Missouri, briefly before returning to Tulsa and graduating from Book T. Washington High School in 1965.

Jeff was drafted into the U.S. Army, but chose to go into the Marine Corps. In the Marines, he became a sergeant; he also worked as a radio technician. After being released from active duty, he returned home. He married Patsy Gamble and to this union three children were born: John, Michelle and Richard. He was a special father to their children and extra special grandpa to their grandchildren. Jeff worked as a supervisor for Southwestern Bell where he retired. He became self-employed doing house remodeling, small construction work and cable line installation. Jeff was so knowledgeable about so many things. His siblings often sought his expertise on many subjects. Whatever you asked him about, he had an answer.

Jeff spent his later years in Lawton, Oklahoma, after he married Sarah Day. He became a father figure to her children, Pamela Day, Leta Johnson, Tara Brown, Elliot Martin and Paula Recess, and a grandpa to their children. Jeff was a special uncle to so many nieces and nephews, possibly seventy and counting! He has one uncle, Joe, two aunts, Martha and Alice, cousins by the dozens, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends galore! When Jeff passed into eternity on March 26th, 2017, he went to meet his mother and father, his brother Carl, and his sister Eula, who went on before him; thus closing a life of sixty-nine years well spent, and one that was always busy helping others.

Viewing will be Friday, March 31st at Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 14th and South Boulder Avenue, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. A Memorial Service will be Saturday, April 1st, 11:00 a.m., at Lifeline Outreach Ministries, 2708 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, in Tulsa.

Interment will be Monday, April 3rd, 2:00 p.m., at Fort Gibson National Cemetery, with military honors.

FITZGERALD IVY CHAPEL, 918-585-1151