M. Dayle Jeffs
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It was the end of an era for our family. On Saturday, October 5, 2024, early in the morning, M. Dayle Jeffs passed away peacefully in his sleep at the ripe old age of 94. He had lived well, though the last several months were an unusually difficult struggle for him. Dayle was born March 7, 1930 the third child of Alvin Wooley Jeffs and Melvina P. Jeffs (his first name was Melvin after his mother Melvina). He is survived by his wife Janice P. Jeffs, sons David D. Jeffs (w. Denise), James H. Jeffs (w. Cynthia), Robert L. Jeffs (w. Tracy) and William M. Jeffs (w. Joanne), sixteen grandchildren and 43 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother A. Dean Jeffs (w. Darnell Zollinger Jeffs), Dorothy Ann Jeffs, and VeeAnn Jeffs Mickelson (h. Bernie Mickelson).
Dayle was born in the depression to a financially poor family and grew up through WWII. He worked his entire life, beginning at the age of 11 with a paper route, working at an ice cream store, Jeffs & Jones Paint, the Counter Intelligence Corp and then started Jeffs & Jeffs law office with his brother Dean in 1957. He served as the Utah County Attorney from 1966-1970. He was respected by his lawyer and judicial peers and loved by his clients. He retired from the law practice in the summer of 2019 when he felt he could not really help his clients, but continued going to the office until forced to stay home in 2020 by Covid. He was in all respects a self made man who learned and earned largely on his own.
Dayle met his true love, Janice Parker, in the fall of 1949. Though he walked with her to BYU's campus and talked to her for 3 months, he didn't know or ask her name but had to have his mother find out her name for him. Their first date was in December, 1949 and they were married a year later on December 18, 1950 in the Manti Temple. He loved and cared for her to the very best of his ability throughout his life and until his death. Not having had a particularly active religious upbringing, marrying Janny in the Manti Temple and making his temple covenants there were Dayle's first significant religious experiences. Those enduring covenants to Janny and to God faithfully guided him throughout the rest of his life. He served in many Church callings, including with Aaronic Priesthood Quorums, on the High Council and as a bishop of the Edgemont 9 th ward. He was loved by his ward members for his kind and loving service.
Dayle loved life (though sometimes not as much as he loved being a lawyer). He was not a particularly funny person but he had a number of funny and quirky sayings and mannerisms. He was somewhat accident prone, but despite his injuries he proudly avoided a hospital stay until very recently. He was politically active and patriotic and loved the 4 th of July parades, celebrations and fireworks. He loved Christmas and took great joy in shopping for and giving generous Christmas gifts to all the members of his family. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing, boating, camping and other outdoor activities, particularly with his family. He enjoyed being informed and read two newspapers every day until his eyesight failed him.
But what he loved most was his family. He learned by loving his parents, his brother Dean and his sister VeeAnn. Then increased it with his love for his wife, Janny, and then for his sons, and further expanding to include his daughters-in-law, and then his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as they each arrived. He was kind and he was loving though his love was not demonstrative nor typically expressed. As he aged his energy waned, but not his enthusiasm for life. He was loved by his family. We have and will miss him.
Please join us in a celebration of Dayle's life. There will be viewing at Nelson Mortuary, 4780 North University Ave. Provo, on October 20th from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. The funeral will be at the Edgemont Ninth Ward chapel, 4300 North Canyon Road, Provo on October 21st. The viewing will be from 9:30 to 10:45 am and the funeral will be at 11:00 am. The funeral will also be streamed by Nelson Mortuary. Burial will be at the Orem Cemetery.