Worth Jeffus Obituary (1917

Wilbur Worth Jeffus went to his heavenly home on Friday, September 26, 2008 at Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family and friends after a brief illness. Worth was born in Plainview, Texas on January 18, 1917. He was the youngest of the four sons born to Walter M. and Anna Morgan Jeffus. When he was a small child, his parents purchased a school house and moved it to a quarter-section North of town and made it into their home. He lived there on the family farm until he was a young adult. He worked for his father on the farm and at his father's grain elevator business. When Worth was twelve years old, his mother died from cancer and his father had to finish raising the four boys by himself. Worth graduated from Plainview schools and attended Texas Technological College in Lubbock, TX. He served in the 45th Division of the Army during World War II in both the European and Pacific Theaters. He attained the rank of Captain. Worth was united in marriage to Winifred Wacker in Guymon, Oklahoma on October 9, 1941. They made their home wherever the military took them for the duration of the War. To this union, two sons were born, Larry Worth in 1946 and James Hal in 1950. After the War, Worth went back to his pre-war employer, Gulf Oil Company where he worked as a surveyor on a seismograph crew. They lived in Pampa, Texas during that time. In 1947, they moved to Guymon and he began his farming business. He was involved in farming for the rest of his life. When irrigation began to happen he got very interested in it and drilled several wells many of which he was still operating through his tenants at the time of his death. He studied the groundwater of the area and served on the Governor's water task force for a time. He was active in the Presbyterian Church, serving as a trustee and had a significant role in the design and building of the present sanctuary and the Sunday school building. He served on the Hospital Board for 10 years and helped to keep it in the black in the years before Medicare was available. Worth also served on the Soil Conservation District board for many years. Worth enjoyed his Fridays at the Dunes, foliage tours with his friends for many years and in later years his Five O'clock stops at Bob's He is survived by his wife of almost 67 years, one son Larry Jeffus, of Guymon, five grandchildren, Paula Everett and husband Chet of Stratford Texas, Elgie Murphy and husband Randy of Guymon, Brooke, Blaine and Jancy Jeffus of Grandfield, Oklahoma, four great grandchildren, Bethany and Hunter Everett, Madison and Mercedes Davis. Worth was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers Warren, John Hal, and Jean and one son James Hal Jeffus. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Tuesday evening 5:00-8:00 PM, Wednesday, 9:00 AM-8:00 PM and Thursday from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Services will be held Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 4 O'clock in the afternoon at the Presbyterian Church, Guymon with Rev. Deborah Hollifield, Pastor, officiating. Immediately following the service, anyone who wishes is invited to the Dunes for a Wake in Worth's honor. Stories and dinner will be provided. Military graveside rites will be 9 O'clock Friday morning at Elmhurst Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Presbyterian Church LOGOS or the Dunaway Manor, c/o Henson-Novak Funeral Directors, P.O. Box 1306, Guymon, OK 73942.