Born in San Angelo, Texas to Johnnie Sim and Jo Weatherby on June 16, 1957, Jeff grew up in Big Lake, Texas breaking horses, working cows, and refining his skills as a cowboy. During his childhood years he was active in the Reagan County 4-H programs which included horsemanship and shooting sports. He worked on the Weatherby, Carr, and Coates Ranches along with day working for many local ranchers. His passion for being a cowboy outweighed his desire to finish high school which was only put in check by his Granddad Theron giving him a gun with a promise that he graduate high school. Following high school graduation he went on to work at the Pitchfork Ranch and the Scott Ranch. He carried on a tradition of ranching and being a cowboy that was sown years before in his family.
In 1983 he married, Cynthia (Cindy) Sue Smith and her son Rusty. He later gained two other sons, John Olen and Jed Allen. He on more than one occasion would tell his sons "I taught you everything you know, but not everything I know". He was a baseball coach, shooting sports coach, hunting guide, and most importantly the Boss.
As his kids were growing up, he decided to fulfill a dream to go into law enforcement. He graduated the Concho Valley Council of Government Law Enforcement Academy on May 20, 1999 which ultimately led to his commission as a Peace Officer. He was sworn in as a Reagan County Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Frank Gonzales 1998. He continued as a Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Kirk Pullig and ultimately retired in 2013 as the Chief Deputy for Sheriff Jeff Garner.
In the mid 2000's Jeff found a new hobby which included traveling to South Africa and hunting game that sometimes hunted him. He spent countless hours hunting and gained two brothers, Douw and Bekker Pelser and Eugene Small, who shared countless laughs and memories. Jeff was a man of few words and even less hobbies, but when you got him talking about hunts in Africa. Anyone sat at his breakfast table in Dairy Queen or came by the house spent hours looking at photos and video and listening to every story of the hunts.
Jeff Weatherby participated in many activities of his kids childhood which included Iraan Little League, Reagan County Little League, Reagan County PeeWee Football, Reagan County 4-H Livestock Shows, and Shooting Sports. He was an NRA Certified Firearms Instructor, Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor, Texas Concealed Handgun Instructor, and a Lifetime Member of the National Rifle Association.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Johnnie and Jo Weatherby; brothers; Jay Sim and Joe Dean Weatherby. He is survived by his wife, Cindy; sons, Rusty and Ashley Weatherby, John Olen and JJ Weatherby, and Jed and Amber Weatherby; sister, Lynn Weatherby; nephew and niece, Emily Weatherby and Sam Weatherby; countless cousins. Most important of all his granddaughters, Audrey Anne, Matti Elizabeth, Kimbree Paige, Haislee Jo, Laramee Sage, and Reagan Carr.
Graveside Services will be held at the JL Weatherby Cemetery, 1008 JSW Road, Big Lake, TX on January 1, 2022 at 2:30pm with Pastor Kevin Weatherby officiating. Lunch will be served at the Reagan County 4-H Building at 12:00pm prior to the service.
Pallbearers are Billy Millsap, Jeff Sanders, Chad Armstrong, Tommy Holt, Rick McPhaul, Sonny Anderson, Larry Don Clark, and Ricky Clark. Honorary Pallbearers are Calen McPhaul, Jimmy Jones, Jimmy Baker, John Nanny, Tim Sellman, JD Henry, Eugene Small, Douw Pelser, and Bekker Pelser.
To many he was a quiet man, to his family he was our hero. He will always be remember as a man of few words and even fewer hobbies.
