Jeanne Marie Scheffer

Our "Pretty Woman," Jeanne Marie Scheffer, whose kindness and quiet strength touched many lives, passed away on March 3, 2016, in West Valley City, Utah, at the age of 72.

Jeanne was born on May 1, 1953, in Flagstaff, Arizona to Jean Marie Hewitt and Edgar DeLyle. Later in life she found a devoted father in Ron Hewitt, who was married to her mother for more than 50 years. Jeanne made her home in Southern California for many years, where she raised her two children, Darcy Marie DeLyle and Byron Scott Bredalen. The loss of her son Byron in 2015 was a sorrow she carried deeply.

Jeanne became a mother at the young age of fifteen and faced that responsibility with remarkable strength and determination. With the support of her parents, she chose to raise her child and devoted herself fully to being a loving and protective mother. She began working at the age of sixteen and lived a life grounded in discipline and care, never turning to drugs or alcohol. Jeanne later worked as both a massage therapist and a nurse assistant, dedicating much of her life to helping and healing others. Her nurturing touch and compassionate spirit were gifts she passed on to her daughter, Darcy, who carries that healing tradition forward. Jeanne also brought her children to a church that practiced meditation, planting early seeds of reflection and spiritual awareness that Darcy continues to honor in her life.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Bob Scheffer, who was by her side until the very end. Jeanne and Bob were best friends and soulmates. They met while both working at Home Depot. She called him TDH1 (The Tall Dark Handsome One). They were married on February 28, 2007 and shared 21 years together, including 19 years of marriage. They lived in the greater Seattle area in Washington and later in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Bob's daughter, Sarah Scheffer, lived with Jeanne and Bob and quickly became a cherished stepdaughter to Jeanne. She was a proud grandmother to Atlas Marr-Bredalen, Elijah LaCour and Bentley Billingsley, whom she spent much quality time with when the kids were little. A year ago she became a great-grandmother to Farleigh Fae Bredalen, through Byron's son Atlas.

Jeanne loved arts and crafts and had a special fondness for stamps and cards. She enjoyed listening to Gordon Lightfoot, Roy Orbison, Gene Pitney, Govi, and Andrea Bocelli, and often sang and danced along to the music. Some of her happiest moments were spent in nature with her husband-sitting beside a peaceful stream or capturing photographs of sunsets, flowers, and trees. She was known for baking cakes and bringing treats to the people she loved. Jeanne was a generous and compassionate person with strong moral character. She was an avid reader her entire life. She was also a fierce protector of her sisters: Jayne Federmeyer (deceased 2021), Suzanne DeLyle, Lynda Davis, and Merrilee Hewitt. She loved her Aunt Janis, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jeanne devoted much of her life to caring for others. She worked for more than 20 years as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Kaiser Permanente in Fontana, California, and later practiced as a massage therapist for 15 years in Chino Hills, California. She also worked for Marriott Rewards in Salt Lake City, Utah and eventually at one of her favorite places, Benjamin Franklin Crafts, where she found great joy being surrounded by the crafts she loved.

Jeanne will be remembered for her kindness, creativity, beauty, and for the love she so freely gave to her husband, family, and friends. Her compassionate heart also extended to animals, including her many cats and dogs, her adopted horses, and her beloved kitty, Twilight.

"If you could read my mind, love… What a tale my thoughts could tell." ~ Gordon Lightfoot