My Uncle Jeff

My mother's brother, Jeff, passed away last week...I thought it would be nice for me to post his obituary, since it explains exactly the kind of person he was... I have a lot of happy childhood memories of spending holidays and family gatherings with Jeff, Beth, Jamie and Colby - like him building the house in Idaho next door to his while he and his partner shouted out to each other...how he used to scare me and Heather when he would call and disguise his voice...how he dressed up as Santa Claus at Grandma's house in the orchard... lots of summers in Sun Valley, lots of Christmases... Max's Aloha Tours in Kauai when he picked us up in a Rent-a-Wreck with no floor in the car...

JEFFREY TED LAWN. March 7, 1944 - November 9, 2005. How does one find the words to describe Jeff Lawn? Loving father and grandfather, genuine friend, skilled contractor, competitive golfer, table top dancer! For Jeff, life was a balance of hard work, of family and friends, worldwide adventures too numerous to count, lots of golf and lots of laughs. Laughter was inevitable when Jeff was around. His quick wit was truly a gift. Jeff passed away peacefully in his favorite chair at his Carmel Valley home. Jeffrey Teddy Lawn was born March 7, 1944 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Theodore and Maxine Lawn. He was the only boy of their four children. Jeff grew up in Minneapolis/St. Paul, attending St. Peters Grammar School in Richfield, MN and graduated from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, NV. He joined the U.S Army in the early 1960's and was honorably discharged in 1966. After leaving the Army, Jeff spent some years in Pacific Grove where he drove a truck for Del Monte Laundry. In 1968 he married his first wife Laura, and was blessed with his son Jason a year later. They lived with family in Las Vegas for a few years before Jeff eventually settled in Sun Valley, ID. During his 14 years there, he met and married Beth and became the proud father of his two daughters Jamie and Colby. In 1986, Jeff and his family moved to Carmel Valley where he developed his passion for building and remodeling homes. He also continued with his love of golf and could be found most days on the course perfecting his game. (And of course the 19th hole!) Jeff loved to sing his own renditions of songs by artists such as Frank Sinatra and Stevie Ray Vaughn. With his spirit of adventure and spontaneity, Jeff lived a full life within his 61 years. His parents, Maxine and Ted, preceded him in death. He is survived by his sisters Judy Whitehead, Joyce Swarts and Jill Lawn, his first wife Laura Lawn of Aptos and mother of his son Jason Lawn (Kezlee) of Scottsdale, AZ, former wife and friend, Beth Lawn of Carmel Valley, mother of his daughters, Jamie Peters (Blake) of Granite Bay, CA and Colby Lawn (Paul) of Portland, OR, grandsons Drake Lawn of Scottsdale, AZ and Noah Jeffrey Peters of Granite Bay, CA and many, many friends and relatives. He is deeply loved and will truly be missed! A Celebration of Jeff's life will be held at Carmel Valley Ranch Golf Club on Sunday December 4th, 2005 at 1:00p.m. All who knew and loved Jeff are welcome to attend! The family requests that any contributions in his name be made to the American Heart Association, 1514 Moffett St., Suite J, Salinas, CA 93905. Arrangements by The Paul Mortuary of Pacific Grove. Published in the Monterey Herald on 11/17/2005.