USAF Ret. Major Donald Neal Jeffery USAF Ret., age 89 of Lancaster, Ohio, passed away on Memorial Day May 28th, 2012, at Fairfield Medical Center after a brief illness. Don Enlisted USAF and began proudly serving his country as a tail gunner in World War II; then as he rose in rank he became a pilot which he served in this capacity during the Korean War; Cuban Crisis and Vietnam until he retired at the rank of Major. He leaves behind his loving wife of 61 years, Rebecca Lay Jeffery; three sons, Donald N. Jr., James S. (Jenny), Jay B. (Linda, daughter, Nora L. (Andy), nine grandchildren, Tyler, Justin, Jenna, Veronica, Valerie, DJ (Ashlee), Michael, Adam, Jack, and one great-granddaughter, McKenna; and one brother-in-law William Martinez; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. Don was preceded in death by his parents; Donald and Ethel Lewis Jeffery; sisters, Shirley Jeffery Martinez, and Audrey Jean Jeffery; father and mother-in-law, Earnest and Ethel Lay; brothers-in-law, Weldon Lay, Bill Lay; sisters-in-law, Ernestine (Tene) Flowers and Pauline (Polly) Burgess. Caring Cremation has taken place through the Frank E. Smith Funeral Home, 405 N. Columbus St. Lancaster, Ohio. In honor of Don's memory a donation to The Wounded Warrior Project, at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or to Wounded Warrior Project, PO BOX 758517 Topeka KS 66675 or to a
. Online condolences can be made through www.funeralhome.com
Published in the Erie Times-News on May 31, 2012
