Philip John Jeffries

Philip John Jeffries, 90, formerly of Weatherly, died Sunday in Lancaster at Willow Valley where he resided.His wife Maxine and daughter Janet were at his side.Born in Lansford, PA on Nov. 3rd, 1918, he was the son of the late James and Margaret (Green) Jeffries.Phil was a member of Salem United Church of Christ Weatherly.He was a 1936 Coaldale High School graduate and president of his class.He attended Kutztown College, Ford School of Business and Eckels School of Mortuary Science.Phil  was one of the first toll collectors at Carslisle when the PA. Turnpike opened in 1937.During WW II he was employed at Atlas Powder Co. in Tamaqua, PA and Ravenna, Ohio.He also worked at the Number  8 breaker in Coaldale and at the Textron Aluminum Plant in Nesquehoning.Phil owned the Jeffries Funeral Home in Coaldale from 1950 to 1959. In 1959 he moved his family to Weatherly where he bought the Warner Funeral home which he operated as the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home until his retirement in 1985. He also ran  Jeffries Furniture in Weatherly.Phil was active in the Order of the Eastern Star, having served as Worthy Patron of Mayflower Chapter in Hazleton and other Chapters in Carbon and Luzerne County. In 1986 he served as Grand Worthy Patron for the Grand Chapter of OES in PA.He was a 50 year member of Ebenezer Masonic Lodge #33  Wooster, Ohio and  was a 32nd Degree mason in the Valley of Canton, Ohio.Phil was a past president of Weatherly Rotary, a Deputy Coroner for Carbon County, a member of the advisory board of Blue Cross of NEPA and served on the board of directors for Hazleton Masonic Temple Association.He was the recipient of the Grand Cross of Color from the International Order of Rainbow Girls.

Phil is survived by his wife of 66 years E. Maxine ( Hardesty) Jeffries in Lancaster.Daughter: Dr. Janet Slovak and her husband Dr. Charles "Kif"  Weyl of Mohnton, PA.Sons: Philip James and  wife Margaret;  Charley and  wife Candy all of Weatherly Walter and  wife Carol of Allentown.Grandchildren: John Jeffries, Lisa Winheld, Amy Lintz, Everett, Jocelyn, Vaughn and Carson Slovak, Kent and Eric JeffriesStep grandchildren: Nathan, Anna, Gideon, Emily Weyl.Great Grandchildren: Olivia Winheld, Ian & Annalisa Jeffries, Kreider & Katelyn Lintz, Benjamin Jeffries and  Sylas Slovak.

Services will be at the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home Weatherly, Philip J. Jeffries FD, Supv. on Friday at 11 AM.

Rev. Fredericka Beauchard and Rev. Donald J. Stump Sr. will officiate.

Burial will be at the convenience of the family in Sky-View Memorial Park Tamaqua, PA.

Eastern Star service will be held Thursday at 5 PM.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 PM Thursday.

In Lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to: Salem United Church of Christ First & Fell Sts
Weatherly, PA   18255

Or to:Shriners' Childrens Hospital
3551 N. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA  19140

Online registry and Condolences may be signed at www.griffithsfuneralhome.com