Jay Jeffers

JAY JEFFERS Jay Williamson Jeffers, a long time educator in Clark County, passed away Feb. 19, 2011, in Las Vegas. He was born May 7, 1921, in Milford, Utah, to Jay Clifford Jeffers and Martha Violet Williamson. Jay was the fourth child born to his parents and the first to survive past infancy. His sister, Vera Cleona, was born two years later. The family lived in Milford, where his father worked as a railroad engineer, until Jay graduated from high school. They moved to Salt Lake City so Jay could attend the University of Utah. Jay studied geology and graduated with his degree in 1947. He interrupted his studies for two years to serve his church as a missionary in Texas and Louisiana. Jay moved to Las Vegas and took a job as a teacher at the Fifth Street School. He taught math and science at the seventh and eighth grade levels. He continued his own education by earning a master's degree in education from the University of Utah, studying during the summer break of the academic years. He was promoted to principal of the Washington Elementary School in North Las Vegas in 1953. Jay became the first principal of Twin Lakes Elementary School when it opened in 1955. He was assisted by dedicated teachers and a very active PTA. They sponsored numerous programs and activities to benefit the students. Jay transferred to John S. Park Elementary School in 1964. He developed an "English as a second-language" program for the many Hispanic students who were moving into the area. Jay transferred to Lincoln Elementary School in 1971, from which he retired from the school district in 1977. Jay was recruited by James Dickinson in the early 1950's to be one of the original part-time instructors for the southern extension of the University of Nevada, the predecessor of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He was the geology and geography department. He continued teaching evening courses through the 1960's until the school gained its status as a university. Jay was a member of the Nevada State Elementary Principals Association, serving as president from 1961 to 1963. He was a charter member of the Silver State Schools Credit Union, and served as a member and president of the board of directors and as a member of the credit committee. Jay was a Boy Scout in his Milford, Utah troop. He continued his relationship with the Boy Scout program by serving for many years as an adult leader in Clark County. After retiring from the school district, Jay and his wife, June, were able to travel to many parts of the world. Jay was a life-long learner. At age 70, he completed a course to become a paralegal. He worked as a volunteer paralegal for the Clark County District Attorney's gang tracking unit. At age 80, he began a correspondence course to become a writer. Jay's career was capped in 2005 when the Clark County School District named a school after him, the Jay W. Jeffers Elementary School. He was very proud of the honor to himself, and of the administrators, teachers and students at the school. Jay married June Macfarlane Dec. 18, 1948, at the LDS Temple in St. George, Utah. She passed away Aug. 10, 2004. They have five children: Clifford (Sandra), Duane, Michael (Donna), Dana (Kenneth) Tischer, and Laurie (Tom) Beaumont. They have 18 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Viewing from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 26, with funeral to follow, at Davis Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89119. Burial after services at Davis Memorial Park, same address as above.