Jill Ellen Jeffries

Jill Ellen Jeffries was born in 1962 on August 8 in Kokomo, daughter of Robert G. Jeffries and Katherine Perkins. She was a bright child and learned quickly. She loved to read and declared the library her favorite place. Jill spoke early too. After da-da and ma-ma, her first word was “da***t”, compliments of her father who rode off into the sunset soon after. But I digress . . . She and I were at the greeting card counter browsing and she’d wandered a few feet away. She brought me a card on which a sweet little newborn child was lying in a cradle. “Mommy, look! ‘Congratulations on your new baby boy!’” she read. I commented on how cute it was. And then I realized there were no other customers in the store who could have read it to her! She’d taught herself to read. She’d just turned 5.

Jill’s school days at Washington were some of her best kidhood times. She met Brenda Strasser, Lisa Brown and Sherri Davis, who remained good friends until July 28, 2024. They were there.

Jill enjoyed socializing too. In Mr. Genovese’s class, she was moved to the front row, and he called her “mighty mouth”.

Jill and Richard, her brother, spent so very many days with their grandparents, Richard and Leota Perkins. They (Nanny and Grandpa) had a cottage on Tippecanoe River where Dick and Jill ran and played and explored and fished and swam for countless hours. Just a few weeks before her passing, she, Richard and I had lunch in Rochester, and Richard suggested afterward going to see the river cottage again. After a glorious day and lovely visit with the people who live there now, Jill said, “Mom, PLEASE spread my ashes there!” It’s a perfect place.

Jill’s stepdad, Paul Pfettscher came into our lives in 1974. His influence on her was vast and they grew very close the older they got. He held an active funeral director’s license for 60 years and Jill’s employment at Ellers brought many interesting conversations at dinner.

Jill graduated from Carroll High School, but not before earning several reprimands for various rule infractions, the most serious of which was “accidentally” pulling the handle down on the fire alarm in the hallway. The school’s punishment wasn’t nearly as harsh as mine.

I invited her to leave our home right after graduation! As glad as I was to see her go, she was “gladder”. Off she went to Lafayette where she found an apartment and a job. Three jobs actually when she discovered she couldn’t pay all her bills on just one. After six years of that lifestyle she decided she’d better try college. She discovered Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, which is a small college whose students had to be very bright and very poor. Bingo! She passed the entrance exams and won a Pell Grant and was off to a B.A. degree!

Jill is survived by her brother, Richard Allan Jeffries, Aunt Shirley LeClair, Uncle Tom Perkins, cousins Laura Grubb, Karen Nesbit, Susan Nastase, Betsye Richardson, Stacy Dunn, Thomas (“T”) Perkins; step-siblings Steve Pfettscher, Kathy Levy and Laura Smith; and me, Mom.

In lieu of flowers, Jill thought a contribution to your favorite charity in her name would be fitting. Jill’s celebration of life will be Saturday August 31, 2024 from 12:00pm-2:00pm at Ellers mortuary 3400 S. Webster St. Kokomo. A light luncheon will be served.

Jill Jeffries

August 8, 1962 – July 28, 2024

Jill passed away on Sunday July, 28th at *:**pm. She left this world as she lived in it, surrounded by family and friends. Jill was an intriguing individual and the longer you knew her, the more you learned about her life and sense of humor, which was second to none. Those who knew her best would describe her as a librarian with a sailor’s mouth. She knew which parts of her personality to let shine and when. If you worked with her, then you knew her professionalism and kindness to those she served was top shelf. Outside of her careers, she had very eclectic groups of friends. When out with friends she could let her hair down and sometimes even her drawers. One evening while attending a drag show with some friends, she was dancing with one of the queens and then moved on to having what seemed to be a deep conversation with someone she knew but hadn’t seen for some time. At some point while dancing, Jill had unbuttoned her pants, which had fallen to her ankles. There she stood, having a serious conversation totally obtuse to the situation. Her friends jumped into action and pulled them back up while the conversation continued, without missing a beat she handed her friend her drink, buttoned her pants, took her drink back, and continued her conversation as though nothing had happened.

At more personal times her quick wit would strike out of nowhere. When she was at her weakest and needed assistance moving from one seat to another, she would wrap her hands around your neck and slowly shift her weight back and forth to move. One of these times someone asked if she was trying to slow dance, her response was to wrap her arms a little tighter and chuckle as she said she was just “savoring the moment”.

Those close to her got to experience hand-written cards out of nowhere with affirmations or encouragements, quick witty responses at just the right moment, and times when you could sit together and say the things that wouldn’t be acceptable in “polite” company.

Her meticulous nature wove its way through each part of her personality. If Jill let you into her bubble, you had been vetted and deserved the honor that it was. She would pull no punches and let you know when she thought you could do better but was there to hug you when you felt like you couldn’t.

Lastly, throughout all the positives and negatives of life, the one thing you could count on was that she would never forget a single please or a thank you.