BELFAST - Paul Jeffers, 86, of 7295 Gleason Hill Road South
passed away peacefully in his home on Monday, April 20, 2020. Paul is survived
by his wife, Susan; three sons: Christopher (Joy) Nelson-Jeffers of Wausau,
Wisconsin; Clifton Paul Jeffers of Rotterdam, New York; and Roderick (Kirsten)
Jeffers of Wellsville, New York; four grandchildren: Jonathan, Nathan, Logan,
and Anya; and three great grandchildren.
Paul was born at Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo on May
5, 1933 to Henry Albert and Helen (Breckon) Jeffers. He grew up in Buffalo
during World War II in a predominately Jewish neighborhood alongside many
Jewish friends. He graduated Bennett High School in 1951. He served as deacon
for the University Presbyterian Church where his parents were longtime members.
He participated in Boy Scouts as both a scout and as a leader. He was drafted
into the United States Army where he served his country for six years,
including two years stationed in Japan during the Japanese Reconstruction. He
studied Civic Engineering at the University of Buffalo. Paul was married to
Susan Lois Bohanan by Rev. Clifton Bohanan in Genoa, New York on September 3,
1960. This September, Paul and Susan would have been married 60 years.
Much of Paul’s life was spent at the family cottage at
Rushford Lake, where he enjoyed sailing, a pleasure he would eventually come to
share with his children. In 1970, Paul’s fondness for Allegany County led him
to move his family from Buffalo to the forested hillsides outside Belfast. Paul
served as a deacon during his early years as a member of the First Baptist
Church of Cuba. Paul worked as a civil engineer for the Buffalo Division of the
New York State Department of Transportation. He contributed to the construction
of the Southern Tier Expressway and many other road and bridge projects around
Allegany and Salamanca. He retired on January 1, 2000.
Paul’s pleasures were simple pleasures: petting cats;
reading; crossword puzzles. He puttered secretly about, fixing what needed
fixing, straightening what needed straightening, without anyone ever being the
wiser. He took satisfaction simply caring for his land and the creatures that
lived there. Many a stray or wounded animal would come to be adopted or cared
by Paul during his fifty years on Gleason Hill. When his children were small,
he read to them every night, even when he was exhausted from hours of mowing
grass and shoveling snow. Paul was well liked and respected by everyone in his
hillside community and beyond. He was known for his patience and good
listening. He charmed everyone with his clever stories, mild humor, and gentle
wisdom. His son, Clif, stated “Dad was the strongest person I ever knew.” Paul
persisted in everything that he did, with steady diligence and careful
precision; even in his final days when his body started to feel the toll of a
long life, well lived. He will be forever missed.
There will be no visitation or funeral. Memorials may be
sent to Abbe Freeland, Wild Animal Sanctuary, in Angelica, New York.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Treusdell Funeral Home, Belfast,
NY.
