Allen K. Jeffries

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather while surrounded by his family on December 7, 2020.

Allen was known as “Red” to his close family and friends. Words cannot express how completely adored Red was by so many people. His goal was to make the age of 90 which he did this past September.

Red was born on September 10, 1930, in Allen, Kansas to Charles Leon (Lee) and Bess Jeffries while Lee was working on laying the railroad in Kansas. The family moved back to Louisville, Tennessee shortly after his birth. He graduated from Alcoa High School in 1948 lettering in football and wrestling. He married the love of his life, Faye, in 1957, and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1958 taking only 3 years to complete. He was a Korean War Veteran serving as a SeaBee from 1950 to 1955 and loved to tell stories of his time in the Navy, remaining close to those he served with as lifelong friends living across the US. Allen worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority for over 28 years as a Mechanical Engineering Manager supervising the design of several nuclear power plants. Allen was one of the engineers at TVA to help design their first nuclear power plant, Browns Ferry in Alabama. In 1974, during the time of its initial start-up, this plant was the largest nuclear plant in the world. He was known for his expertise in piping and hanger design and was one of the few people remaining who could boast that he helped design both coal-fired and nuclear powered plants.

He was a resident of Ben Atchley State Veterans Home and until the last 6 months of his life would walk around the facility greeting residents and employees, joking and telling them about his family and family ancestry he had worked to discover over the last 40 years. Red was an avid gardener, growing over 30 varieties of roses which he would cut and presented to his wife daily. He loved to play tennis and after retirement from TVA he taught people over the age of 40, whom had never played tennis, learn the game and play weekly as a group. Red acted as a surrogate father figure for those that needed him and was a guiding influence for many people with whom he came in contact. Patient and kind, he would spend hours helping others.

Red is preceded in death by his wife Rowena Faye Jeffries, parents Lee and Bess Jeffries, brother Ralph Jeffries, sister Betty Jones.

Red is survived by his daughter, Rowena (Richard) Burke, granddaughter, Amanda (Travis) Lowe, great- grandsons Landon Burke and Joshua Lowe, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pallbearers include Richard Burke, Travis Lowe, Landon Burke, Joshua Lowe, Michael Knott and David Knott.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 11:00 am at Berry Highland Memorial, 5315 KINGSTON PIKE, KNOXVILLE, TN. The funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 12:00 pm at Berry Highland Memorial, 5315 KINGSTON PIKE, KNOXVILLE, TN. The graveside Service will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 1:00 pm at Berry Highland Memorial, 5315 KINGSTON PIKE, KNOXVILLE, TN.

The East Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard will present full Military Honors at the graveside. The family invites family and friends to share fond memories and sign the online guestbook at www.berryhighlandmemorial.com

The funeral service and the graveside service will both be livestreamed on the Facebook page of the funeral home and can be located on Facebook by searching for Highland Memorial Park Funerals and Cremations.