Orvil Reed Jeffery

ORVIL REED JEFFERY, age 90, passed away peacefully into eternity on June 16, 2024, surrounded by family in Twin Falls, Idaho. He was born to Orvil Fon Jeffery and Donna Jane Petersen in Delta, Utah, on November 14, 1933 and grew up with sisters and brothers Aulene, Dorothy, Glen, Arthur, and Judy.

 Reed was introduced to farming at a young age when machinery was pulled by draft horses. He was taught to guide the derrick horse, run the dump rake, pitch and tromp hay, and run the mower - working alongside uncles, cousins, his father and brother. He learned about life in the process of planting, watering and harvesting, and shared those lessons with others throughout his life. Delta soil was in his blood, and his heart connected to generations on the Jeffery farm. He lived out the FFA motto: "Learning to do; Doing to learn; Earning to live; Living to serve."

 He graduated from Delta High School, where he was active in football, opera, and livestock projects. He continued to sing in choirs and act in plays and musicals from time to time throughout his life. He enjoyed hunting and fishing until he had to give it up in later years due to knee injuries. He loved animals: dogs, cats, cattle and horses, and they quickly trusted him. He always had a dog nearby, in the truck, in the field, or in the backyard.

 Reed received a scholarship to Utah State University, where he studied agriculture for one year, then was called to serve as a missionary in the Western Canadian Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He returned to Utah State University and was drafted to serve in the Korean War but was excused from service because of deafness in his left ear (the result of a childhood illness). That hearing impairment was a challenge throughout his life.

 Meanwhile, Reed met Shirley Mae Skidmore, daughter of his father’s high school friend Reed Skidmore on a family trip to California, and they fell in love. They were married in the Los Angeles, California Temple on December 14, 1956. They made their home in Delta, Utah, where Reed farmed, they raised five children and spent 66 years together until Shirley passed away on August 14, 2023. 

 Reed embraced new technology and innovation. He bought a laser-guided land plane to level the land and improve the efficiency of irrigation. He tried new varieties of corn and crops such as safflower and sugar beets to see if they would prosper in Delta. He was always trying new tools and finding ways to fix and improve things. He remodeled the family home, built a carport from a kit, then converted it into a garage. 

 Beautiful music filled Reed and Shirley's home, including classical recordings, Lawrence Welk, big band, and country and folk songs. They provided their children with piano and organ lessons, encouraged participation in band and choir classes, and faithfully attended every church, school, and musical performance, shop event, ball game, car show, and other activity.

 Reed loved the scriptures and listened to recordings of them on the tractor and in the car. He faithfully served in church positions including stake missionary, ward clerk, bishop’s counselor, assistant stake clerk, manager of the bishop’s storehouse, and home teacher at the Utah State Prison. He and Shirley especially enjoyed their calling to serve in the Manti Utah Temple for seven years, and made many friends there.

 Community work included service with the Melville Irrigation Company, and clerk of the West Millard Recreation District during the planning and construction of a new community swimming pool. He used his front-end loader tractor to clear snow from parking lots and driveways in town. He had a generous heart and would never turn down a request for help from a relative or a stranger. He didnt hesitate to drive to California or Montana to help relatives move from one place to another, or Tennessee to deliver a car.

He was a friend to everyone and as he often said, there were no strangers, only friends he hadn’t met yet.

 From his elementary school days, Reed was interested in the weather. In 1971, there was a need for weather reports from Delta for aircraft flying between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Reed, Shirley, and their two oldest children were trained and certified as weather observers, a side job that Reed continued for over 40 years . 

 Reed constantly collected and shared jokes and humorous songs like “I’m My Own Grandpa.” He loved to give children “horsey rides” on his hands and knees, or carry them on his shoulders. His “Shakey” handshake was legendary among all who knew him. He turned Christmas gifts into treasure hunts. He enjoyed fireworks and firecrackers. He enjoyed playing games, including Life, chess, and Mexican train dominoes.

 Reed and Shirley kept in contact with many relatives and friends, and took their family to visit them all over the United States. They attended and helped plan family reunions. They loved to travel and took their children to major cities, national parks, and historical sites from coast to coast. In later years, they traveled to Israel, Europe, China, Canada, and Mexico. Their home is decorated with memories from around the world. One of their last trips together was to Los Angeles for their 60th Wedding Anniversary.

 We will miss Reed, Dad, Grandpa. We will remember his love of family and pets, his joy in watching things grow, and his determination to learn, grow, serve and improve throughout his life. He had faith in God and a very strong will to live and overcome obstacles of health and pain. After his knee replacement, surgery on his ear, and then a stroke, he continued to work hard to bounce back after every challenge.

 Reed is survived by his sisters Aulene and Judy and brother Art (Lorraine); his 5 children, Reed, Veline (Greg), Vicky (Steve), Cherie (Joshua), and Todd (Robin); 14 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

 Services will be held at Rosenau Funeral Home in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Friday, June 28th, at 12 noon, preceded by a viewing at 11 am. Interment will be at Filer Cemetery.