Gayle M. Jeffries
Gayle M. Jeffries, 81, of Valencia died Friday at Good Samaritan Hospice, Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot.
She was born in Indiana, Pa., and raised on a farm in West Lebanon, Pa., a daughter of the late C. Meade and Adelaide Coleman Millen.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 60 years, Glenn A. Jeffries, with whom she shared a lifetime of love and devotion.
Along with her husband, Gayle was an active longtime member of Glade Run Presbyterian Church in Valencia, where she previously served as a deacon and Meals on Wheels volunteer.
After graduating from Elders Ridge High School, Indiana County, in 1953, Gayle attended the nursing school at Indiana Hospital. She went on to a career as a registered nurse in a number of hospitals in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and South Carolina.
After years of working mostly the night shift in medical-surgical units while her sons were growing up, in 1981 Gayle was hired as a school nurse at Mt. Aloysius College in Cresson, Pa., from where she retired in 1989.
In retirement, Gayle and Glenn enjoyed square dancing, traveling and, above all, spending time with their grandchildren and attending their school and athletic activities. Gayle loved and adored her two sons and daughters-in-law, four grandchildren and their spouses, and three great-grandchildren.
Fun-loving and absolutely devoted to her family, she was a steady source of encouragement and loving support to each generation.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Fred C. Millen.
Along with her husband, Gayle is also survived by her two sons, Gary A. Jeffries (Marianne) of Henrico, Va., and Gene A. Jeffries (Susan) of Saltsburg; four grandchildren, Andrea M. O’Donnell (Joseph) of Moon Township, Mark A. Jeffries (Elizabeth) of Pittsburgh, Eric M. Jeffries (Marisa) of West New York, N.J., and Kristen E. Kessler (Thomas) of Freedom; three great-grandchildren, Annabelle, Owen and Adeline O’Donnell; two sisters, Joyce DeMatteo of East Stroudsburg and Barbara M. Rearick (Sanford) of Avonmore, Pa.; one sister-in-law, Mabel Millen of Indiana, Pa.; and also a number of nieces and nephews.
JEFFRIES — Family and friends of Gayle M. Jeffries, who died Friday, July 14, 2017, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home, 238 Crowe Ave, Mars.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Glade Run Church, 1091 Pittsburgh Road, Valencia, PA 16059.
The family requests memorial donations be made in her honor to the Deacons Memorial Fund, Glade Run Church, 1091 Pittsburgh Road, Valencia, PA 16059, or Good Samaritan Hospice, 134 Marwood Road, Cabot, PA 16023.
Directions and condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.
