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January 15, 1960 - January 4, 2021
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Jeff on January 4th, 2021 at his residence in Vernon, B.C.
Jeff was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Laurie; two sons, Scott (Laura) and Ryan; one daughter, Hannah (Shawn); two brothers, Jim (Tracy) and Carl; and many extended family members such as Michelle and her partner, Ralph; Jeff's father and mother-in-law, Hal and Sonnia; his sisters-in-law, Kathy and Susanne (Darren); his brother-in-law, Halley (Kristin); three nieces, Taylor, Ava and Graceyn; and three nephews, Pierce, Griffin and Evan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Julie; and one grandson, Dominic.
Jeff was born on January 15th, 1960 in Edmonton, Alberta to parents John and Julie. He moved to Vernon when he was about five years of age and remained here his entire life. Some of Jeff's favourite stories as a young school boy of Harwood Elementary was when he would play marbles with his classmates during recess and lunchtime.
As a teen Jeff attended VSS. He played and excelled on every team sport offered during his high school years and he won countless medals and trophies. He was most proud of the trophies he won for football and basketball. In March of 1979 Jeff joined the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, working his way to a career as a service technician and he was famous for driving that big red Coca-Cola work van through the Okanagan.
As many reading this will know, Jeff was a very skilled handyman and he could fix anything - and he had a tool for everything! Jeff always had a side job in his younger years, he crafted picnic tables, installed underground sprinkler systems and wall beds. Mr. Fix-It never turned down an opportunity to provide his assistance with home renovations for his family and friends, later remodelling his own household suite.
Golf was one of Jeff's passions. He was a previous member of both Spall GCC and Vernon GCC for over 20 years and enjoyed many rounds of golf with his friends and children. His love for sports was widespread.
Jeff was an avid soccer player, playing with the Okanagan Spring Brewery soccer team for over 25 years where he won several trophies for Best Defenseman and in 2005, alongside his OK Spring teammates, participated in the World Masters Games where their team ended up placing 3rd. How Jeff loved that tournament and participating in the Games which consisted of 27 different sporting events and over 21,000 worldwide athletes!
Jeff also absolutely loved playing hockey and being a teammate with the Vernon Lakers (now Vipers) hockey team. He also bowled, thrived in baseball, volleyball, badminton, squash and ping pong and just last winter he had taken up snowshoeing. Really, there wasn't a sport Jeff didn't play and he was an overall excellent athlete!
Jeff was also involved in the Vernon community, coaching Hannah`s soccer team, Scott`s hockey team, and was Ryan`s golf caddy. He volunteered for the local fire department and also became an indispensable volunteer for the Vernon Soccer Association`s annual May long weekend soccer tournament and the annual Vernon Winter Carnival Coca-Cola Classic Peewee Hockey tournament for over 20 years.
Jeff will be remembered as an outgoing, fun-loving person who always enjoyed a good joke and a laugh. He looked forward to playing Monday night soccer with the guys and going on his annual golf tournaments with his Ryder Cup buddies! He so loved his children and was very proud of them. Jeff was very blessed to have such a supportive and loving family and countless friends. "Gumby" will be missed by all who knew him.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a Celebration of Jeff's Life will be held in the future when larger gatherings are permitted. As an expression of sympathy, those who wish to do so may send donations in memory of Jeff to the Last Door Recovery Centre at 327-8th Street, New Westminster B.C. V3M 3R3 (Telephone: 1-866-247-9890)
Cremation arrangements were made with Bethel Funeral Chapel Ltd.,
5605-27th Street, Vernon, B.C. V1T 8Z5
250-542-1187


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