James Smith Jeffrey, age 83, was born on July 21, 1941, in Lorain, Ohio. He entered eternal rest peacefully on March 13, 2025, with his wife of 59 years, Carol, and his children by his side.
Jim loved all the good things in life: red trucks, trips to ACE Hardware and breakfast at Yours Truly. He loved to tell the history of all the buildings in downtown Cleveland, play golf with his buddies and sneak slivers of pie. Most of all, he loved his family, and his cat, Tinker.
At 11 years old, Jim assumed a lot of responsibility as the man of the household following his father’s untimely death. He lived with and supported his mother, older sister, Barbara Jane (Jeffrey) Meszaros, and younger sister, Janice Bernice Jeffrey, by running his paper route.
In his youth, Jim played baseball, performed in school plays, was a Boy Scout, a member of the acapella choir and a devout Catholic. On Sunday mornings, he finished his paper route efficiently so that he could attend mass.
At 23, Jim met Carol. She was a beautiful and intelligent young woman, who had just finished nursing school at St. Vincent Charity Hospital School of Nursing. He was a sharp dresser and drove a Corvair convertible, spending his nights off by her side. And, after eight months of courtship, Carol and Jim were married on Oct 9, 1965.
In 1969, the couple moved to Chesterland and established their forever home, where they raised three children, James “Jamie” Smith Jeffrey, Cynthia Ann Jeffrey and Julie Marie (Jeffrey) Glasscock.
They were active members of their community and St. Anselm’s Church, serving on the parish finance counsel and volunteering at the church’s annual festival.
Jim enjoyed working on projects, especially those that involved their home and garden. And, he was always willing to offer a helping catcher’s mitt or provide scrutinous batting practice in the front yard.
In 2000, Jim affectionately became Grumpy Grandpa when his life was enriched with five grandchildren. Papa Jim was always ready to tote kiddos to school and activities with “Gramps Taxi Service” and offer expertise on Science Fair projects.
Jim was a structural engineer in commercial construction for 45 years, after receiving his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Fenn College in 1964. He worked for the Albert M. Higley Corporation for most of his career. During this time, he built the Perry Power Plant, the American Greetings building, the Case Western Reserve Engineering Science building, several buildings at Kenyon College, The Hunt Club in Gates Mills (rebuilt following a fire), campus athletics facilities at University School and managed other projects in and around the Cleveland area.
Jim was an outstanding construction superintendent and tough as nails. For this reason, he was not a friend to mediocrity in any aspect of his life, including misleading Lego instructions or poor drainage. He was ceaseless in his passion — we expect he will go on to replace all the railroad ties in Heaven, with just one mechanical pencil tucked safely in his shirt pocket.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, James Smith Jeffrey; and his mother, Jessie Victoria (nee Kurant) Jeffrey.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Ann (nee Munich) Jeffrey, and their children, Jamie Jeffrey, Cynthia Jeffrey and T. Wesley White, Julie (Jeffrey) Glasscock and Michael Glasscock; and grandchildren, Hanna Glasscock, Meredith Mallon-Jeffrey, Evan Glasscock, Lainey Glasscock and Blake Jeffrey-White.
Family and friends gathered for a Mass of Christian Burial on March 22, 2025, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 6850 Mayfield Road, Gates Mills. Interment at Chester Township Cemetery.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gattozziandson.com for the Jeffrey family.
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