Hudson's Bay High School Alumni
Vancouver, Washington (WA)
In Memory of
Michael Jeffries
1950-2021
Born Feb 12, 1950, Michael Jeffries attended Hudson's Bay High School in Vancouver, WA.
Class of 1968
Feb 12, 1950 - Jul 12, 2021
Feb 12, 1950 - Jul 12, 2021
Michael (Mike) Jeffries
February 12, 1950 - July 12, 2021
Our brother Mike passed away on the morning of July 12, 2021. Mike Jeffries, son of Art and Joan Jeffries, was born Feb. 12, 1950, in Bremerton, WA.
Mike was the second oldest child and the first son of the Jeffries Family. He loved family, friends, cars, welding, mechanics and life. He enlisted in the Navy after high school in 1968 and served for three and a half years despite never seeing water, in fact, he never learned to swim. He said that in order to pass the Navy swimming exam he walked the edge of the pool and took off running; he was not quite sure how he got across but he made it. We believe that was the last time he ever “swam”.
Mike served in the US Navy as a crew chief on the F4 Phantom, and his duties also included providing support for the Navy’s Blue Angels. He was well respected for his talent as a mechanic, his passion, and the pride he took in caring for his planes by both his crews and his officers. On many occasions, new pilots learned that it was Mike’s plane that they were flying, not theirs, and they better not screw it up.
While in the service, Mike was involved in serious roll over car accident. He was ejected from his car at nearly 70 MPH on the freeway, landed in a gravel pile the road crews had left and survived. Mom’s angels were certainly watching over him for in the car behind him was one of the top surgeons in the state of California. He spent a month in a coma and suffered a badly broken leg, but was blessed with another 50 years.
After recovering from his car accident, Mike returned home and went to work for the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland. Upon retirement in 1995, he was able to devote all of his time to, first and foremost, family and friends, then cars, car people and coffee groups.
Mornings always started at dad and mom’s house; their wakeup call was the smell of the freshly brewed coffee Mike had put on. As his license plate proudly stated, Mike was the 1st son. He loved his parents and was always there when anyone needed help. Sometimes a bit too early. He always wanted to be the first one there, the first to call and wish you a happy birthday, the first to start the coffee.
Mike cherished family. mom, dad, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins, he was always the first to be there for any need. He taught us to work hard and to be fiercely proud of our work ethic. He taught us to be self-sufficient, to love and celebrate life, laugh contagiously, dance spontaneously, how a smile can light up a room even on the darkest day, what true friendship is, and the responsibility we have to make the world a better place for the next generations.
February 12, 1950 - July 12, 2021
Our brother Mike passed away on the morning of July 12, 2021. Mike Jeffries, son of Art and Joan Jeffries, was born Feb. 12, 1950, in Bremerton, WA.
Mike was the second oldest child and the first son of the Jeffries Family. He loved family, friends, cars, welding, mechanics and life. He enlisted in the Navy after high school in 1968 and served for three and a half years despite never seeing water, in fact, he never learned to swim. He said that in order to pass the Navy swimming exam he walked the edge of the pool and took off running; he was not quite sure how he got across but he made it. We believe that was the last time he ever “swam”.
Mike served in the US Navy as a crew chief on the F4 Phantom, and his duties also included providing support for the Navy’s Blue Angels. He was well respected for his talent as a mechanic, his passion, and the pride he took in caring for his planes by both his crews and his officers. On many occasions, new pilots learned that it was Mike’s plane that they were flying, not theirs, and they better not screw it up.
While in the service, Mike was involved in serious roll over car accident. He was ejected from his car at nearly 70 MPH on the freeway, landed in a gravel pile the road crews had left and survived. Mom’s angels were certainly watching over him for in the car behind him was one of the top surgeons in the state of California. He spent a month in a coma and suffered a badly broken leg, but was blessed with another 50 years.
After recovering from his car accident, Mike returned home and went to work for the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland. Upon retirement in 1995, he was able to devote all of his time to, first and foremost, family and friends, then cars, car people and coffee groups.
Mornings always started at dad and mom’s house; their wakeup call was the smell of the freshly brewed coffee Mike had put on. As his license plate proudly stated, Mike was the 1st son. He loved his parents and was always there when anyone needed help. Sometimes a bit too early. He always wanted to be the first one there, the first to call and wish you a happy birthday, the first to start the coffee.
Mike cherished family. mom, dad, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins, he was always the first to be there for any need. He taught us to work hard and to be fiercely proud of our work ethic. He taught us to be self-sufficient, to love and celebrate life, laugh contagiously, dance spontaneously, how a smile can light up a room even on the darkest day, what true friendship is, and the responsibility we have to make the world a better place for the next generations.