In measure of time, in years, nearly a century passed from the birth of our Mary Elizabeth Myrtle Orr Jeffers, Born Dec. 23, 1894 to William Robert Orr and Lillie Jane Waldron in North Vernon, Indiana. Her brothers Marion Douglas and Clyde, and sisters Nellie Grace and Hazel Irene.
Her father was killed in a building accident when Myrtle was 13 years old. The family faced and solved many hardships.
She was employed as one of the first telephone operators in Council Bluffs and she also worked at a candy factory. She worked as a mothers helper for a large family.
She met and married Earl Jeffers May 30, 1914. Many children were born to them; there was a still born and a toddler, Albert LeRoy who died at 3 years old. A grand attempt was made she wanted her children to have the initials O.E. Jeffers. She made it with Opal Ellen, Orville Earl, Olive Eleanor, Ora Emerson. Then , with the rest following , she said they just came to fast to keep up with the names. Lucille, Darlene, Donald, Marion, Mildred, Lillie, Jacqueline, Kenneth, Barbara.
They resided in South Council Bluffs many years, then moved to the country on Route 3. The children married, started families and moved away. In 1951 Earl & Myrtle moved to Lomita, Ca. They were married 52 years when Earl passed on May 23, 1966.
Memories of the Sunday dinners, family picnics, card games, music, grandma's vegetable gardens on the farm, her famous raisin cake, her piano playing, the fun of hours of scrabble with her at age 90 and the snapping of the always available sour apple gum. Crying, laughing, giggling, the joke book. The stories of her family growing up flood my mind.
Having attended the World wide Church of God in her later years, religion was conviction with her. Studying, writing, listening to tapes, she kept the faith. Her needs outweighed her wants. She was a free spirit. She had likes and dislikes, supported what she belived to be right and wrong, and didn't mind saying so. She loved and hugged and was tender when touched. God bless her until we meet again. She was 99 years in age, but actually she is the sum of all our ages. Her light lives on within us.

Written by Beverly

Edited for space by Carol

Myrtle had 15 children & 70 Grandchildren & we are still counting the Great Grandchildren...Ü