A. Dean Jeffs

While we face the loss of our beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and great grandfather with deep sorrow, it is with great peace that we recall his uniquely full and varied life of enriching experiences and his loving service to family, friends, church, community, and nation. We are comforted and joyful as we recognize with faith that he has now been welcomed by his first wife Laurel and many other family members into the peace and happiness of the Spirit World. Dean passed away surrounded by loving family members in his home, January 21, 2018, of natural causes incident to age.

Dean was 89 years old at the time of his passing, having been born on July 15, 1928, in Provo, Utah, as the oldest son of Alvin Woolley Jeffs and Melvina Payne Jeffs. His brother Melvin Dayle Jeffs was born 18 months later, and their younger sister Vee Ann came on the scene 13 years later. An older sister, Dorothy died shortly after her birth.

Dean served in the French Mission of the LDS Church (1948-1951) and married Laurel Rae Johnson on July 2, 1952. Soon after, he was inducted into the US Army during the Korean Conflict and served as an agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC). Dean and Laurel were blessed with five children (Brian, Michael, Richard, Kristine, Jerald), though Laurel passed away in 1975. In 1976, Dean married Darnell Zollinger, and they were blessed with two children, Randall and Laura. Dean’s greatest joy was his family and he spent his life in serving them.

Dean loved the Lord and made service in the LDS church a priority. Among many church assignments he served as bishop, stake president, and president of the West Indies Mission (1988-1991.) Community service was another passion. He served several terms as a Utah State Senator (1971-1981) representing Utah County, and also served as chairman of the Utah Stake Liquor Commission. His wise, kind, and effective service in all of these positions is remembered gratefully by many whom he served.

As lifelong best friends, Dean and his brother Dayle closely shared many of the highlights of their lives. Both earned Eagle Scout rank and were Sea Scouts. They both graduated from Provo High School, graduated from Brigham Young University, served in the US Army CIC Corps, received law degrees from the University of Utah, founded Jeffs and Jeffs Attorneys at Law as partners for over 30 years, raised their families together, served as LDS bishops, and supported each other in public office (state senator and county attorney). They were so close that they recalled clearly their last argument occurred when Dean was age 11.

Dean Jeffs is survived by his wife Darnell Zollinger Jeffs and his children Brian Jeffs, Richard Jeffs, Kristine Jeffs Harris, Jerald Jeffs, Randall Jeffs, and Laura Jeffs, and his brother Dayle Jeffs. He was preceded in death by his first wife Laurel Rae Johnson Jeffs, son Michael Jeffs, sister Vee Ann Jeffs Olsen Mickelson, and grandson Steven Jeffs.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 27, 2018, at 11 a.m. at the Cherry Hill 5th Ward LDS Chapel located at 135 East 2000 South in Orem, Utah. Public viewings will be held Friday, January 26, 2018, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary located at 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah, and on Saturday, January 27th from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. just prior to the funeral service at the church. Interment will be at the Orem Cemetery.

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