James Bowman Jeffries, 85 of Kenansville passed away after a long and valiant battle with cancer on October 14, 2023. Jimmy was a native Floridian, and was born in Kissimmee, Florida to an Osceola County pioneer family. His parents, Ross and Gladys Jeffries, were well known and loved. Ross E. Jeffries Elementary School was named after his father, the first principal; an honor that remains to this day.
Jimmy’s military service with the Army was served at Cape Canaveral, where he helped support the training of the astronauts for the Mercury Capsule Space Program with the NASA.
Jimmy had many passions besides his family and was a man of many talents. He was known as an amazing furniture refinisher and had worked with many Osceola Families for generations to bring their family heirlooms back to life. He was also an avid fisherman and loved going out on Lake Marian at the crack of dawn to get “his spot”. Most weekends he could be found on his back porch with friends and family watching college and NFL football.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years Mary Lou.
He is survived by his 3 children, Ross Jeffries (Meg) of Jacksonville, FL., Donald Young (Maureen) of Orlando, FL. and Marie Young Smith of Tampa, FL..; seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; his sister Barbara Brodmerkel (Jeff) and many nieces and nephews.