Leota Mae Jeffers was born on July 14, 1929, in Hartshorne, Oklahoma. She is the third of eight children born to Leona and Nelson Curliss, and the oldest of five sisters. Leota is predeceased by her husband, Edward F. Jeffers, with whom she was married to for 60 years.
Leota spent her early years in Hartshorne and from the outset took initiative in most things she did. She taught herself how to play the piano and drive. At 16, she took her first job as a companion to an elderly lady, who she drove to weekly Saturday dates at the cafe. She also cooked and took care of the woman’s yard, and even taught her sisters how to provide the same care.
Leota shared other skills, including managing money, with her siblings. She acquired her financial savvy on her paper route and even taught a brother how to earn money after he complained he couldn’t. She often paid her siblings for odd jobs, such as brushing her hair or making sandwiches.
As a child, Leota played lots of cards games with her brothers and sisters. When it was hot, she’d rule the card table with a bowl of ice in front of the fan - and pay her siblings to bring her more ice. This love of games continued throughout her life. She worked crosswords and jigsaw puzzles, played games with her children and grandchildren and often chanced the lottery with her sisters. With Leota, nothing was ever lacking for something fun to do, and she had a keen sense of humor.
On November 11, 1950, Leota married once-professional football player Edward Jeffers. It’s said that as soon as Leota laid her eyes on him at a Hartshorne dance party, she decided he was her future husband. Her sons describe Leota and Edward as smitten with each other throughout their entire 60 years of married life.
After their first two sons were born in McAlester, Oklahoma, the couple permanently relocated to Hobbs, New Mexico in 1954. They had two more sons, and as the family grew, they moved to a larger home on Penasco Street. Leota was a stay-at-home mom until her sons went to school, at which point she began to work in the Hobbs school system. She was first a secretary to the Principal at Broadmoor Elementary, and moved later on to Heizer Junior High.
At 5 foot 4 inches tall, Leota lived amongst giants, including her tall husband. Her shortest son was 6’2”, but there was not doubt as to who was disciplinarian in charge. One of her sisters still admiringly refers to her as the General because of her strong, smart and scrupulous character.
Leota’s family life consisted of lots of camping trips, perfect for her rambunctious boys. Her watchful eye never strayed off her sons, however, as they participated in endless bicycle races, baseball, football, track, building Christmas tree forts and games such as mumblety-peg, kick the can, and hide-and-go-seek. Not surprisingly, Leota and Edward were their sons’ biggest fans when it came to sports and instilled a strong sense of fair play in each of them.
Every year, Leota rounded up her family for their annual pilgrimage to Oklahoma to visit their grandparents, aunts, uncles and countless cousins. She and her husband also had a deep abiding faith. On most Saturday evenings, the Jeffers clan could be found on the third pew from the front, on the outside by the door at the St. Helena Catholic Church.
…Family members include sons, Edward Andrew Jeffers and his wife, Stacey, Modesto, Calif., James Paul Jeffers and his wife, Gwendolyn, Nacogdoches, Texas, and Patrick David Jeffers and his wife, Merrilee, Chandler, Ariz. Also, grandchildren, Zackary, Clara, Kyle, Rachael, Amanda, Matthew, Jennifer, Jill and Justin, and great-grandchildren, Harper, Harrison, Xavier, Olivia, Ivy Lou, Jack, Stella, Alexander, Darian, Caroline, Jude Francis and Coen.
…..previous deaths of her parents, her husband Edward Jeffers; son and daughter-in-law, Richard Thomas and Viki Jeffers; three brothers Leonard, Benny and Jim, and sisters Mary and Greta.
