Jeffrey Mears

Jeffrey Wayne Mears, an 8 year Ephrata resident, passed away March 3, 2016, with his wife at his side. Jeff was 51. Funeral services were held on March 9th with burial in Ephrata Cemetery. Please sign the online guestbook at www.kayserschapel.com Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel of Memories. Jeff was born in Prosser, on August 15, 1964 to Russell and Velma (Poteet) Mears, the second of four children. He grew up in Grandview, surrounded by a large extended family. He could often be found at his mom’s Maid of Clover helping her. He was also active in auto racing, and had a car called the Outer Limits. It was a source of great fun and family time for Jeff in his youth. While growing up, Jeff’s biggest dream was to have a family of his own. He often told the story that he knew from kindergarten he was meant to be a dad. Jeff received his GED in 1982, and entered in the Navy in January 1985. He was stationed at NAS Oceana in Norfolk, VA; it became a favorite vacation spot later in life. Jeff had a love for aircraft. During his Navy career, he was employed as an aviation electrician and assigned to the USS Forrestal. Jeff was a member of the VF11 Squadron, and he worked on his favorite plane: the F-14 Tomcat. He married Michelle Leenhouts in 1985 and they had two children, Tara-lyn (1987) and Tyler (1989). They divorced in 1990. After leaving the Navy in 1989, he returned to Washington State. He spent some time working at Boeing, but wanting to be closer to his children, Jeff returned to the Yakima Valley. In 1992, Jeff started an apprenticeship program with the US Army Corp of Engineers. He became a power plant mechanic and worked at several USACE dams, but settled in Pasco, WA in 1997, working at Ice Harbor Dam. In 1999, he married the woman he calls his “sweetheart,” his wife, Jayma (Downs) Mears. In 2001, Jeff was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Jeff and Jayma made their home in Kennewick for many years, welcoming a son, Hunter, in 2002. In 2003, Jeff was deployed, as a civilian with USACE, to Iraq, where he spent 5 months helping restore their power grid. He received an Army Civilian Excellence award for his work there. While he was in Iraq, his daughter Haylee was born. In 2005, Jeff went to Louisiana, as part of the USACE effort to rebuild New Orleans. He spent 3.5 months there, and received an Army Commanders Award for his work. In 2006, he and his sweetheart had another son, Race, and Jeff retired from the USACE. Jeff moved his family to Ephrata in January 2007. Jeff started a new career in data center technology. He also became very involved with his children’s activities. He coached baseball, football and was on the board of Grid Kids Football organization. He spent many hours of volunteer time in service to his church, as well. Jeff loved spending time with his family. In June 2015, the family finalized the adoption of two of his grandchildren, to bring the total number of children at home to 5. Jeff was diagnosed with cancer in July 2015. His battle with the disease was brief, but intense. He was courageous, brave, and determined. Jeff had a love of family that surpassed all things in his life. He is preceded in death by grandparents Poteet and Mears. He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Jayma; young children Hunter (14), Haylee (12), Race, (9), Lola (3) and Ava (2), and adult children Tara-lyn and Tyler, and two grandchildren, Kyla and Braylen. He is also survived by his parents, Russell and Velma Mears of Grandview; siblings Theresa (Rich) Johnson of Prosser; Tricia (Jamie) Simmons of NewCastle, and Troy Mears of Grandview. Survivors also include many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jeffrey Mears

August 15, 1964 - March 3, 2016