Marion Jeanette Jeffries

Marion Jeffries, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died on Sept. 18, 2026 at age 98 in Santa Barbara, CA.

Marion was born on Oct. 7, 1927 to Albert and Emma Haas. She grew up in the agricultural communities of Perris and Riverside, CA, where her father was a citrus scientist.

While in junior high school, a classmate named Stan caught her attention. Years later after she graduated from UCLA, they married at Grace Methodist Church in Riverside on June 25, 1949. The June 25 wedding date would later be shared by two more generations of family members. Stan and Marion shared 76 wonderful years of marriage, raising a family and later enjoying travels across the United States and abroad.

Stan and Marion welcomed three children to their family: Steve, Karen, and Alan. She later became a grandmother to Scott, Julie, and Angie, and a great-grandmother to Abigail. She was a steady presence in their lives, providing abundant love and passing down skills such as baking, sewing, making crafts out of cardboard boxes, and using rubber stamps to decorate a birthday card.

Marion was a kind, cheerful, and loving person who did not like to complain about anything or be in the spotlight. She was generous, often saving up lemons from her tree to give to family. If she received a compliment on her shoes or accessories, she would take them off and give them away.

Marion was a beloved kindergarten teacher in the Riverside Unified School District for 30 years, positively shaping the lives of hundreds of young learners. Her students, past and present, were excited to see her around town after school hours and would yell out, “Mrs. Jeffries!” Her family joked that she had a fan club wherever she went. Two more generations of family members followed in her footsteps and became educators.

When Karen and her family moved to Santa Barbara, Stan and Marion left behind their longtime Riverside community and relocated to a condo in Goleta. The community pool came to good use – especially, for her granddaughters’ birthday parties. Marion also enjoyed attending St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Sunday mornings with three generations of family members.

For holiday meals, her family knew she would have a festive outfit and table decorations despite insisting it would be a casual get-together with “no tights.” One Easter, she carved a sheep, complete with wool, out of a stick of butter. When the family was gathered around the table she would let out a happy sigh and say, “We are just so thankful…”

Stan and Marion later moved to a mobile home park to what they lovingly referred to as the “tin box.” They lived independently and actively well into their 90s before moving to assisted living. Marion enjoyed a variety of activities at the assisted living center, such as sitting with friends in the dining room, going to exercise classes, and listening to musical performances.

We will miss Marion dearly but also rejoice in the wonderful life she lived, and that she is now reunited with her husband, who died in late May.

Marion is survived by her children Steve (Kathie) Jeffries, Karen Wootton, and Alan Jeffries; grandchildren Scott Jeffries (Jordan Sudermann), Julie Wootton-Greener (Cody Greener), and Angie Wootton (Ava Agree), and great-granddaughter Abigail Greener. She preceded in death by her husband Stan Jeffries, her parents, and son-in-law Jeff Wootton.