Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and dear friend, Jeffry Thomas Waters, passed away, at the age of 70, on Monday, December 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, CA. The son of James Howard and Kathlyn Dempsey Waters, Jeff was born on July 20, 1945 in Safford, AZ.
Jeff graduated from Safford High School where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He attended Eastern Arizona Junior College on a football scholarship, then transferred to Northern Arizona University after a severe leg injury. This injury caused pain and numbness to his leg the rest of his life. Jeff served as an LDS missionary to the Northern States Indian Mission. He returned to NAU where he met Verlene. They married and had three children. He worked as a banker for many years and was a member of the Lion\s Club and a scoutmaster. He also volunteered many hours coaching Little League baseball, Pop Warner football, and high school football. Jeff returned to school and earned his Master\s Degree and teaching certificate. He then taught business and computer skills to both high school and adult learners on the Navajo/Hopi Indian Reservations. Throughout his life he enjoyed coaching and sharing his love of athletics and learning. Upon retiring from teaching, Jeff and Verlene worked as service missionaries in the LDS Addictions and Recovery Program. Jeff believed in hard work. He worked from the age of 8 with his first paper route and did everything from custodial to bus driver to vice president of a bank. He believed all jobs were important and put forth his best effort in everything he pursued. Jeff could fix anything and loved creating with his hands, building many furniture pieces in their home. He enjoyed cooking, traveling, fishing, playing games with his family, movies (particularly old sci-fi), and television shows. He could be found many days napping through his childhood favorites. Jeff never felt he was extraordinary, but was very touched when his son recently told him he felt Jeff was successful in everything that mattered in life. Everyone who knows Jeff would agree with this sentiment. He will be greatly missed.
Jeff is survived by his wife Verlene, son Frank (Kathy), daughter Becky, grandchildren Jessica, Jared, and Jeffrey and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Brenda, brothers Jim and Frank and a nephew Michael.
A memorial reception will be held in Jeff's honor on Saturday, January 16, 2015 from 11:30 a.m. ‚ 2:00 p.m. at the Larkin Mortuary ‚ Riverton, 3688 West 12600 South, Riverton, UT.
