Jerry Marvin Jeffries

Jerry Marvin Jeffries, 73, of Hamilton, Montana, died Saturday, September 24, 2011 of cardiac arrest due to complications of a recent illness, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Montana. Jerry was born in Reno, Nevada to Lawton and Jessie Jeffries on April 29, 1938. He grew up in Westwood and Susanville, California and graduated from high school in Westwood.
His employment included heavy equipment operator for the Lassen County Road Dept. in Westwood, California, Hamilton City Policeman and Ravalli County Deputy Sheriff in Hamilton, Montana. He began seasonal work with the U.S. Forest Service right out of high school at the no-longer-existing Coppervale Ranger Station in California's Lassen National Forest. He retired in 1998 as a Health and Safety Specialist after 31 cumulative years with the U.S. Forest Service in California and Montana. During his Forest Service career, he received numerous merit awards and was honored in Washington D.C. with the prestigious national Geico Public Safety Award for Fire Prevention and Safety in 1992. While employed at the Montana Technical Development Center in Missoula, Montana, he delayed retirement from the Forest Service for one year to complete his re-writing of the Health and Safety Code Handbook used by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
Jerry was an avid sportsman, who loved to hunt and fish. He particularly enjoyed many fishing vacations in Alberta, Canada with his wife and two grandchildren, as well as upland game bird and antelope hunting on the Montana highline.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Kenneth Jeffries.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Vivian Comingdeer Jeffries, two daughters, Debby (Bob) Walker of Darby, Montana, Kim Bailey of Billings, Montana; grandson, Dusty Petri of Gillette Wyoming; granddaughter, Brandy Jeffries of Tacoma, Washington; three great grandsons, Kaine Sinclair, Dawson and Laine Petri; also his two brothers, Louis Jeffries of Hamilton, Montana and Robert (Ann) Jeffries of Chico, California; numerous beloved nieces and nephews; and his father-in-law, Clarence Comingdeer of Billings, Montana.
Jerry was a 41 year member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Bitterroot Aerie, Hamilton, Montana, and long-time member of the National Rifle Association.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030, Marcus Daly Hospice Services, 1200 Westwood Dr., Hamilton, MT 59840, or St. Patrick House, 501 W. Alder, Missoula, MT 59801.