Vivian Ann Jeffries

Vivian Ann Comingdeer Jeffries

Vivian Ann (Comingdeer) Jeffries, age 86, of Pahrump, Nevada, breathed her last breath on this earth on August 15, 2025. She made her exit from a mortal body to enter into a glorious eternal home, prepared perfectly, lovingly and personally by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Vivian was born on May 28, 1939, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma to Clarence and Agnes Comingdeer. When she was six years old, like so many other “Okies,” they loaded up their truck and headed for California. She often likened their move to “the Clampetts” and occasionally to the journey portrayed in The Grapes of Wrath. They providentially landed in Westwood, California (that is, the Northern California Westwood) or even more accurately, in Milltown. The transition from “Okie” to Californian wasn’t purely seamless, but once she made it through the transition, she began to excel as a student. She loved reading, learning, school, music and rocks!

It was in grade school that Vivian first laid eyes on a mischievous, cute and funny boy named Jerry Jeffries. However, it wasn’t until high school that they managed to defy their parent’s concerns about the match, and they fell in love and were married on January 5, 1957. Vivian was 17 years old, and Jerry was 18. Their love and marriage endured through the ups and downs of life for 54 years, proving that young love can be real and lasting. It wasn’t until Jerry’s death, in 2011 that they were parted.

The couple began their family in Westwood by welcoming two daughters, Debra (Jeffries) Walker and Kim (Jeffries) Bailey. Because of Jerry’s love of hunting, fishing and all things outdoors, he heard the call to move to Montana, so that is what they did. The first trial run of a Montana move was in 1965, and then they made the final move in 1967. They ended up falling in love with the Bitterroot Mountains, the Bitterroot Valley and the quaint little town of Hamilton, Montana. Some of the best memories of that time were just driving on back mountain roads, not knowing where they would lead. Jerry would ask, “which way should I turn?” and whatever the consensus was, that’s the way he would go.

They built their life and careers in Hamilton. Vivian had various clerical jobs until she finally settled into a position as a legal secretary in the County Attorney’s office where she had a 17-year tenure. She loved her job, and it was in that position that she developed so many valuable friendships. Her friendship with coworker, Sharon Evans was most treasured over the years. She also valued the friendships made with law enforcement throughout her career.

Vivian deeply loved her family. She was the best grandma to her two grandkids Dustin Petri and Brandy Jeffries. They shared so many fun times, and they especially enjoyed the fishing trips they made to Lac La Biche in Canada. She was “grandma duck” (a name acquired because of all the ducks that resided in her yard and backyard ditch) to her great grandkids Dawson and Laine Petri, Kaine Sinclair and Somaya Shepherd.

Vivian had an artistic flair and made beautiful paintings on leather, framed in horseshoes. She incorporated feathers from birds that Jerry had hunted and beads that reflected her Native American (Cherokee) heritage, which was an important part of her identity. She was also famous for her pancake art. If pancakes were for breakfast, you name the shape, and she could create it! She loved to cook and she loved to entertain. If she knew you were coming, she would have something fixed for you and after dinner or treats, she would play you a few old gospel hymns or some rag time tunes on the piano. She always said that her music was her “therapy” and she was known to play the piano for church or have a “gig” with her rag time band.

After Jerry’s death in 2011, Vivian reconnected with an old friend from grade school, Tom “Fergi” Ferguson. Tom came to Montana to spend time with her, and he quickly became a close friend and companion. When he eventually departed Hamilton to live near his daughter and her family in Nevada, Vivian realized she didn’t want to be separated from him, so she made the decision to sell her home in Hamilton and move to Pahrump. She quickly made new friends in Pahrump and was involved in the local Republican Women’s group, the Pahrump Well Owners Association and her church, Choice Hills Baptist Church. She and Tom shared a life together as friends and companions until her death in August.

Vivian fought a valiant fight against metastatic colon cancer in the last two years of her life. She fought the good fight, she finished the course, and she kept the faith. Now there is in store for her a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to her on that day. Our family will mourn our loss, but not as those who have not hope, because we know where she is now! She lived a life to be celebrated, so we will celebrate a beautiful life and look forward to a grand reunion one day in glory.

Please join us for that celebration on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Daly-Leach Chapel & Crematory, 1010 W. Main St., Hamilton, MT. Livestreaming of the service will be available for those who are not able to join us in person. For details, please go to the Daly-Leach Chapel & Crematory website at dalyleachchapel.com.