Irene Jefferies

Irene Rushton Jefferies The Tomato Lady Irene was born July 19, 1915 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Lewis James and Julia Caroline Larsen Rushton, the ninth of eleven children. When she was three, her father was killed in an explosion. When she was 18, her mother passed away leaving the older children to take care of the younger. The Great Depression had little memorable impact on her because the farm she grew up on provided most of her needs. She attended Whittier Elementary School in Hunter. where her principal was Harold B. Lee. On May 4, 1936 she was married to Frank Archie Jefferies in Evanston, Wyoming and was later solemnized September 27, 1984 in the Jordan River Temple. Irene much preferred gardening to household work. This was evident in the size of her gardens each year. She planted as many as 3000 tomato plants, many rows of corn and other vegetables in a given season. There was always a stand in front of her home selling tomatoes and vegetables, at first with only a sign saying, Take what you need and leave the money in the can. Until the early sixties Arch would come home from work, eat, and watch TV every evening, but he won a trophy for one of his rabbits at an exhibit and began a new life attending exhibits throughout the United States and Canada. Irene enjoyed it just as much. On a drive through Kansas (on the way to Kentucky) she watched a funeral procession passing and commented, That was a long funeral procession!. Arch, who was driving, replied, What funeral procession?. Irene was known for her ward and stake babysitting, choir participation, candy making, temple activity, visiting teaching and cheerful personality. Making friends was never a problem for her. On Mothers Day she suffered a serious fall and her health took a turn for the worse. Her final days were spent in the home of her loving granddaughter, Amber. She passed away September 4, 2010. Irene is survived by her three children: Diane Gee, Kent Archie and Gene Frank; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren. Preceded in death by her parents; brothers and sisters: Edward L., Chris M., Charles E., Caroline Cook, Rebekah Ek, Lavina Grobstein, Sylvester A., Sam W., Lucille and Lewis J. Funeral services will be held Friday, September 10, 2010, 11:00 a.m. at the Hunter 2nd Ward, 3970 South 5200 West. Viewings will be held Thursday, September 9, 2010, 6-8 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road and Friday at the church, 10-10:45 a.m. Interment, Valley View Memorial Park.