Of Dexter, Michigan
Velma Jean Jeffery, best known as “Jean” or “Jeanne” passed away on July 11, 2022 at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. Jean was the middle daughter of Ernest and Gladys Seyfried, born on December 12, 1934 at their home on Glenwood Street in Ann Arbor.
Jean attended Ann Arbor (Pioneer) High School graduating in 1953 with an emphasis in stenography. She put her skills to use first as a sales associate at Kline’s department store, the police department and Phillips Manufacturing. After the birth of her daughter Stephanie, she chose to stay home to raise her and kept herself busy as co-leader in Brownies and Girl Scouts and volunteering at Sunday School at the Dexter United Methodist Church. Jean went back to work at Wylie Middle School in Dexter as a substitute secretary and then landed a full-time position as school secretary and then secretary to the Principal.
Jean always had wonderful stories of her childhood. She and her two sisters, Elaine and Ruby, sang in harmony at events and competitions and even on the radio. Jean learned to be an excellent seamstress from her mother and honed her love of gardening and bird watching from her father. Jean is best known for her famous lemon meringue pies, intricately decorated cookies and cakes and her ability to whip up a delicious, balanced meal every night for dinner, while noting how colorful it was.
She loved to play cards, board games, solve puzzle books and work jig-saw puzzles. But most importantly she loved to laugh, and had a wry sense of humor which definitely got her through the past four months after losing her husband of 53 years in March, then enduring hospital and rehabilitation stays since May.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband Donald, sisters Elaine (Edward) Klinske and Ruby Patterson. She leaves behind her daughter, Stephanie (Eric) McPherson of Omaha, NE, her brothers-in-law, Norman Jeffery of Chelsea and Bud Patterson of Anderson, TN, sisters-in-law Lois (Wally) Jeffery of Cleveland, OH and Eva (William) Jeffery of Pinckney, and many nieces and nephews.
Jean loved animals, especially the many deer, turkeys, racoons, chipmunks and squirrels that frequented the backyard. But she also loved her dogs, grand dogs, and cats. Donations can be made in her memory to the Humane Society or animal rescue of your choice.
The family will receive friends Wednesday July 13, 4-7 pm at Cole Funeral Chapel. Burial will take place on Thursday, July 14, 10:30 am at Bethlehem Cemetery, Ann Arbor.
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