GARDEN CITY, Kan. – Leslie “Wayne” Jefferson, 92, died Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 at Garden Valley Retirement Village in Garden City.
He was born July 26, 1925 in Akron, Colo., to Wilburn Fern and Verna Mae Riggs Jefferson.
After serving in the U. S. Army during the Korean War, Mr. Jefferson returned to Colorado. He first worked as a farmer before becoming an oil inspector for the State of Colorado. After more than 20 years, he retired from the State of Colorado. He moved to Garden City in 2014.
He was a member of Community Congregational Church in Garden City and a lifetime member of Masonic Lodge #73 in Monte Vista. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, four-wheeling and snowmobiling.
On July 30, 1947, he married Betty Davis in Taos, N.M. She died Nov. 28, 2006. On April 4, 2009, he married Macyle Shepherd in South Fork. She died June 29, 2017. He also was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Mary Evalee Jefferson and a stepdaughter, Val Potter.
Survivors include two daughters, Georgie Cummings of LaPlata, N.M. and Diane Richards of Henderson, Nev.; three stepchildren, Marvin Decker and Barry Decker, both of Nebraksa and Annette Waetzig of Garden City; a brother, J.W. Jefferson of Grand Junction; four grandchildren and numerous great grand children.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Colorado.