Judith Nell (O’Dell) Jeffries was born May 13, 1945, and passed away peacefully on June 10, 2026. Her parents were Warren Davis O’Dell and Georgia Dean (Minnick) O’Dell, whom she affectionately referred to as “Mother and Daddy” until their deaths. Along with her younger brother Jim, she was raised on the family farm just down the road from her church and final resting place, the White Oak Pond Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Along with their parents, Judy and Jim remained close throughout their adult lives.
After being set up on a blind date with a kind, sweet, and sometimes too talkative college guy, the more reserved and quieter Judy quickly fell in love with David Jeffries. They dated while David completed his degree and served his country in the U.S. Army. After their engagement, Judy was welcomed into the equally close-knit Jeffries family of Earl, Ruth and David’s younger brother Jim. Judy and David were married on September 23, 1967. Until his death in 1999, Judy and David lived in the home on Harris Lane they had bought in 1968. The two were inseparable and they lived gentle and rich lives in the short 30 years they had together.
Judy and David’s adoration of each other was eclipsed only by the arrival of their son, William Craig Jeffries. He was named for David’s uncle William C. Jeffries, a World War II war hero who had died in France. When asked why they had no other children, Judy simply replied with a slight smile… “After Craig, we just didn’t see the need for any other children. He was just great.”
Judy raised her son with the same love and warmth of her own childhood. This included a hot breakfast for him every morning and meticulously kept scrapbook curations of his life and adventures. She gave unwavering motherly support and the occasional eye roll when the teenage Craig bought cars that she thought a little too fast, or when his tab at the local Radio Shack ran a little too high. She also provided him with the values she lived every day, including knowing the importance of hard work, faith, accountability, and service to her community.
Judy’s values were also evident throughout her long and storied business career. In high school, she began working for local businessman Ellwood Willard, who owned a successful insurance agency. Under his mentorship and guidance, Judy received her industry’s highest designations and built a 50-year career during which she became an owner of United Insurance before selling to her partner when she retired in 2013.
Despite her focus on the agency, she always found time to support her community through town planning commissions, church volunteering, and generous support to many fundraising and charitable endeavors.
Judy also gave generously of her time to her family and friends. She cared for her parents as they aged, never missed sending a thoughtful note or card to those in her life, and in retirement made frequent visits to Kansas City to visit her beloved grandchildren Alexandra and Collin. She loved those visits and was equally excited when they visited her. She loved to share with them her Christmas Village collection and displays, her neighborhood stray cats, and her delectable, oven-fresh pumpkin roll.
Because of Judy’s faith, those left behind are assured that she will have an equally beautiful afterlife in heaven as she had while she was here among us. Judy’s legacy includes son Craig and wife Jolene Jeffries, grandchildren Alexandra and Collin; brother Jim and wife Kathleen; and brother-in-law Jim and his wife Donna. She also was Aunt Judy to many nieces and nephews, whom she adored.
Services for Judy Jeffries will be Saturday, June 20, in White Oak Pond Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with visitation at 10 a.m. and funeral at 11 a.m., with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to White Oak Pond Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Lebanon.
Arrangements are under the direction of Shadel’s Colonial Chapel of Lebanon. Sign guest book at www.shadelscolonialchapel.com.
