Obituary of Kenneth William Jeffrey
Kenneth William Jeffrey (71) longtime St. Maries, ID resident passed away at his home on March 29, 2025. He was born to Jahauda and Mitsue (Shino) Jeffrey on October 8, 1953 in Los Angeles, CA. Ken grew up in Los Angeles where he loved playing Little League. In 1967 the Jeffrey family moved to St. Maries, ID. Ken graduated from St. Maries High School with the class of 1971.
Following high school, Ken went right to work. He started out working for the Forest Service and worked for Benewah County for several years. In 1975 he went to work driving logging truck for Ivan Wilks and then Bob Russell. Ken also coached Little League baseball for a short time. In November of 1974 Ken started dating Teresa Manning. They were the loves of each other’s lives marrying on August 23, 1975, at the Four-Square Gospel Church in St. Maries. They made their home in St. Maries, and over the years they opened that home up to 4 foreign exchange students. Ken spent many years working for John Haskins and then Ed Haskins. When Ed retired in 2009, Ken bought his logging truck and was still working with hopes of semi-retiring this fall. He loved driving truck, but thought it was time to slow down a bit.
Ken enjoyed the outdoors, so when he wasn’t working, he often spent time in the woods camping, riding ATVs, and hunting, making memories of several hunting trips with Dick Woodbury, Ernie Renfrow, and his brother-in-law Mike Manning. He also loved attending every gun show in the Pacific Northwest and fishing, specifically for blueback. Most important to Ken was his family. He enjoyed family gatherings, and he doted on all his nieces and nephews as if they were his own.
Ken is survived by his wife Teresa at their home in St. Maries, ID; brother Allan Jeffrey of St. Maries, ID; beloved fur baby Golden Retriever Toby, siblings in-law Renee Lewis of Spokane Valley, WA, Debbie O’Connell of Brewster, WA, Mike (Sherry) Manning of Cavendish, ID, and Kevin (Julie) Manning of Clarkston, WA; nieces and nephews Shawn O’Connell of Brewster, WA, Jenny (Jae) Ellig of Kennewick, WA, Trevor (Angela) Carmen of Spokane, WA, Meagan (Jayson) Kappen of Spokane Valley, WA, Chris (Jessi Ann) Manning of Spokane, WA, Timmy (Amanda) O’Connell of Davenport, WA, Samantha (Dan) Nelson of Minot ND, and Katie Manning of Clarkston, WA; great nieces and nephews Rileigh Manning of Boise, ID, Carus Kappen of Spokane Valley, WA, McKenzie Kelly of Pullman, WA, Drake Kappen, and Jett Kappen of Spokane Valley, WA, Kelsie Kelly of Kennewick, WA, Keagan Manning, and Ryder Manning of Spokane, WA, Addison O’Connell, Delcan O’Connell, and Quinn O’Connell of Davenport, WA, Callie O’Connell of Brewster, WA, and great great niece and nephew Everleigh Wasson, and Oaklund Wasson of Boise, ID. He was preceded in death by his parents Jahauda Jeffrey and Mitsue Jeffrey, his aunt Fumie Dunow, parents in-law Jack and Marjorie Manning, and nephew Stacy Carman.
A Celebration of Ken’s Life will be on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 11:00 am at the Eagles Lodge in St. Maries, ID. A gathering of family and friends to share a meal will follow.
