James Thomas "Tom" Jeffries was born May 1, 1943 in Fort Scott Kansas to Ruth Eleanor and James Filmore Jeffries who soon took Tom and big sister Caroline Lee to Lamar Missouri where both sets of grandparents as well as many uncles, aunts and cousins lived. Though the family moved to Springfield before Tom started school, the extended family in Lamar always remained close.

James and Ruth became members of a mission church in Webster Park subdivision. As the mission church family grew into a full-fledged church, Tom grew in understanding and was saved at the age of eight. That commitment never wavered and shaped the rest of his life.

In 1969 Tom and Gwendolyn Hankins were married. They were blessed with two children, Jennifer Lee and James Howard "Tad". Tom loved being at home with his family. The hours spent with his children were his happiest. They hiked, cooked, built, sang, and laughed together.

Tom passed away at home on May 10, 2016 in the loving care of his family with the much appreciated support of the caring staff members of Three Rivers Hospice and Oxford Health Care. At the time of his death Tom was a member of First Baptist Church of Springfield where he had found satisfaction serving as a bus driver and helper in the special education department.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister. He is survived by his wife Gwen; his daughter Jenny, her husband David Stone and their sons Taylor and Tucker Stone; and his son James, his wife Katie, and their children Andrew and Anna Jeffries.

Visitation will be Friday, May 13, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, with funeral services to follow at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be held in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens following the services.