Florence Irene Jeffries

Florence Irene Jeffries, 77, Nevada, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, in Joplin, Mo., following a lengthy illness. She was born Feb. 22, 1933, in Pine Apple, Ala., to Jesse Clinton Richards and Eula Bell Hayes Richards. She married John Martin Jeffries on June 25, 1950, in Lucedale, Miss., and he preceded her in death on Nov. 5, 2007.

Irene grew up on a family farm in Pine Apple, Ala. She and John came to Nevada, Mo., in the early 1950s. Irene worked for the Nevada R-5 schools as a cook for many years. Mrs. Jeffries also worked at Key Work Clothes in Nevada, Kellwood Tent Factory and Moore-Few Care Center as an aide. She had worked along with her husband in numerous Baptist ministries in the area. She was a member of the Sylvandale Baptist Church.

Survivors include five children, Shelia Griffin and her husband, Eugene, Nevada, Bruce Jeffries and his wife, Karen, Sheldon, Mo., Bill Jeffries and his wife, Nancy, Nevada, Steve Jeffries and his wife, Brenda, Millbrook, Ala., and Cindy Vandenburg and her husband, Mike, Metz, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mildred Hoban, Killeen, Texas, and Inez Langenbach, Silver Hill, Ala.; and one brother-in-law, Isaac Jeffries, Springdale, Ark. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; three brothers, Eugene Richards, James Richards, and Alvin Richards; and one sister, Louise Connor.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 3, at Moore Cemetery, Nevada, with Dr. William Cox officiating. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada and the family will receive friends 7-8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 2, at the funeral home.

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