Douglas Jeffrey

Obituary of Douglas W. Jeffrey

Doug returned Home to be with the Lord on August 24, 2012. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and a humble, faithful servant of God who dedicated his life to ministering to others. Douglas Warner Jeffrey was born June 30, 1928 in Long Beach, CA to the Rev. George and Mrs. Jean Jeffrey. He was the youngest of 7 children (Paul, Clyde, Ruth, George Jr., Russ, Gene and Doug). After the Long Beach earthquake the family moved to Riverside, CA. In adulthood, Jeffrey get-togethers were boisterous and humor-filled as everyone shared remarkable stories of growing up in a house full of love and laughter during the depression. At 16, Doug was called to his life's work as a pastor, while attending Thousand Pines Christian Camp. He believed in the value of a Christian camp experience for young people and participated at Thousand Pines for 45 consecutive years. Doug attended Poly High in Riverside and graduated from Asbury College in Kentucky. He attended theological seminary in Covina, CA where he met his beloved wife, Pat. They were married in 1953 and began their life of ministry at Torrance First Baptist Church where Doug was the choir director and where he was ordained. They served the First Baptist Church in Ventura where their two children, Jan and Rick, were born, Sunnyside Baptist in Southwest Los Angeles, Huntington Park First Baptist and the First Baptist Church of Huntington Beach/Fountain Valley where they served for almost 20 years. After retirement Doug served as an interim pastor in several churches around California. After the passing of his wife Pat in 2000, he moved to Santa Barbara to be closer to his children. He attended El Montecito Presbyterian Church and eventually moved into Valle Verde Retirement Community where he organized musical events and enjoyed all of the residents, many of whom he'd known from various churches earlier in his life. Doug touched many people through his positive, energetic spirit. He was an unabashed optimist, deriving his strength from his steadfast love of the Lord. We will always love him and will be forever grateful for the time we had together. Doug is survived by his daughter, Jan and son-in-law Rich Mills, son, Rick and daughter-in-law Lisa Jeffrey and seven wonderful grandchildren: Richard, Benjamin, Carryn and Nathaniel Mills and Ryan, Blake and Kaylin Jeffrey. A memorial is scheduled for Saturday, September 15, 2012 at Beachpoint Church in Fountain Valley, CA at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to: Pastor Doug Jeffrey's Memorial Scholarship Fund in c/o Beachpoint Church 17415 Magnolia St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708
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