Obituary for Jerry Jefferson
Geraldine Louise “Jerry” LeClair Jefferson, died May 23 at the age of 95. Jerry was creative, curious and intelligent. She was a woman of faith, civic-minded and a dedicated volunteer and natural leader, she contributed to many organizations and causes over the course of her life, such as PTA, voter registration, her church, her alumni association, the 95th Infantry Division Association and others. Jerry was a master seamstress, winning The Daily Oklahoman’s Golden Thimble award and also enjoyed painting, drawing, gardening and collecting magazines. She had many friends and charmed people easily. She was never at a loss for words and could speak easily to anyone at any time.
Jerry was born in Ponca City on September 27, 1927 to Charles Eugene LeClair and Abbie Mann-LeClair, the third of nine children. She grew up on the family farm near Ponca City learning to sew at an early age to help the family make ends meet, and went to the one-room Tierny School until eighth grade, when she attended Chilocco Indian School near Newkirk where she finished her education. Jerry excelled at Chilocco, earning such honors as Valedictorian, class president, prom queen and posture queen. It was at Chilocco that Jerry met the love of her life, Victor Willard “Buck” Jefferson. The two knew each other prior to Buck’s service in World War Two and upon his return to school after the war, on their first date he asked her to one of his varsity boxing matches in which he knocked out his opponent in under ten seconds. Jerry and Buck were married soon after high school and moved to Kansas City just after their first two sons were born before settling in Oklahoma City in 1952. While living in veteran’s housing, Jerry and Buck were charter members of Mayridge Baptist Church where she remained a member until the early 2000s then moving her membership to Glorieta Indian Baptist Church. Jerry was very active in the church along with other public service organizations. She had a knack for leadership and public speaking and earned the respect of a great many people during her years of volunteering. During the 1970s, Jerry and Buck and a group of their friends became aware of the difficult fortunes of many Choctaws in the metro area who lacked access the the limited services provided by the tribe and in response formed the Oklahoma Choctaw Tribal Alliance to provide grassroots assistance for those in need. Funds were hard to come by, but Jerry recognized the potential of the Indian Taco, up to then being served only in native homes and church gatherings, and suggested the group start an Indian taco stand at the state fair. Thus, a carnival staple was born.
Jerry and Buck brought eight children into the world over a span of 22 years, losing their fourth born in infancy. Jerry was a devoted wife. Buck, having come from a difficult upbringing, often speculated that he would have come to a bad end if it had not been for his relationship with Jerry. In the 90s, having become empty nesters, the couple moved to Lake Arthur, LA to be closer to Buck’s job as an electrical maintenance supervisor for offshore drilling platforms. Upon his retirement, they returned to Oklahoma City. Jerry and Buck traveled extensively, visiting nearly every contiguous US state and making two trips to Europe. After Buck’s death in 2013, Jerry remained in the home they had owned for nearly 70 years until her death.
Jerry was preceded in death by her:
Husband, Victor Willard Jefferson Sr.,
Children: Micheal Dean Jefferson, Debra Jefferson, and Gerald Max Jefferson.
Jerry is survived by her:
Children: Victor Willard Jefferson Jr., Barney Kevin Jefferson, Jeffery Mark Jefferson, Abbie Lynn Jefferson Tufford, and Joshua Wade Jefferson;
along with eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
Jerry was born in Ponca City on September 27, 1927 to Charles Eugene LeClair and Abbie Mann-LeClair, the third of nine children. She grew up on the family farm near Ponca City learning to sew at an early age to help the family make ends meet, and went to the one-room Tierny School until eighth grade, when she attended Chilocco Indian School near Newkirk where she finished her education. Jerry excelled at Chilocco, earning such honors as Valedictorian, class president, prom queen and posture queen. It was at Chilocco that Jerry met the love of her life, Victor Willard “Buck” Jefferson. The two knew each other prior to Buck’s service in World War Two and upon his return to school after the war, on their first date he asked her to one of his varsity boxing matches in which he knocked out his opponent in under ten seconds. Jerry and Buck were married soon after high school and moved to Kansas City just after their first two sons were born before settling in Oklahoma City in 1952. While living in veteran’s housing, Jerry and Buck were charter members of Mayridge Baptist Church where she remained a member until the early 2000s then moving her membership to Glorieta Indian Baptist Church. Jerry was very active in the church along with other public service organizations. She had a knack for leadership and public speaking and earned the respect of a great many people during her years of volunteering. During the 1970s, Jerry and Buck and a group of their friends became aware of the difficult fortunes of many Choctaws in the metro area who lacked access the the limited services provided by the tribe and in response formed the Oklahoma Choctaw Tribal Alliance to provide grassroots assistance for those in need. Funds were hard to come by, but Jerry recognized the potential of the Indian Taco, up to then being served only in native homes and church gatherings, and suggested the group start an Indian taco stand at the state fair. Thus, a carnival staple was born.
Jerry and Buck brought eight children into the world over a span of 22 years, losing their fourth born in infancy. Jerry was a devoted wife. Buck, having come from a difficult upbringing, often speculated that he would have come to a bad end if it had not been for his relationship with Jerry. In the 90s, having become empty nesters, the couple moved to Lake Arthur, LA to be closer to Buck’s job as an electrical maintenance supervisor for offshore drilling platforms. Upon his retirement, they returned to Oklahoma City. Jerry and Buck traveled extensively, visiting nearly every contiguous US state and making two trips to Europe. After Buck’s death in 2013, Jerry remained in the home they had owned for nearly 70 years until her death.
Jerry was preceded in death by her:
Husband, Victor Willard Jefferson Sr.,
Children: Micheal Dean Jefferson, Debra Jefferson, and Gerald Max Jefferson.
Jerry is survived by her:
Children: Victor Willard Jefferson Jr., Barney Kevin Jefferson, Jeffery Mark Jefferson, Abbie Lynn Jefferson Tufford, and Joshua Wade Jefferson;
along with eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.