H.R. Jefferies, longtime Comanche ISD Superintendent of Schools and community servant, crossed the finish line on July 29, 2015, and was received into the arms of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
H.R. was born on January 17, 1930, in Jones County, Texas, near Fort Phantom Hill (Abilene). He graduated from Corpus Christi High School in 1946 and then earned a Bachelors and Masters degree from Hardin Simmons University. He began a 50-year career serving in Texas public education by coaching and teaching at Sundeen (Corpus Christi) from 1950-1953, Rule from 1953-1954, and Baird from 1954-1961 and Abilene 1961-1963. In 1963 he was hired as principal of Paducah High School, and after one year was named Superintendent of Schools where he served from 1964-1972. In 1972 he was named Superintendent of Schools for Comanche ISD and served in this role until retiring in 1989. After retiring as superintendent, he continued to serve in various capacities with Comanche ISD until 2000 when he retired for good to spend more time with his grandchildren. Along with being a coach, teacher and administrator, he drove buses, fixed plumbing leaks, mowed and lined the football field, refereed basketball games and did whatever else needed to be done. Some of the highlights of his career include never having a losing season while coaching, consolidating the segregated schools in Paducah without incident, and building the current Comanche High School campus in 1976 and later the Junior High campus.
Mr. Jefferies received many awards and recognitions. They include being awarded the PTA Lifetime Membership, named Area Coach of the Year while at Baird, named Comanche Citizen of the Year in 1978, selected as Regional Superintendent of the Year in 1989, and being inducted into the inaugural class of the Comanche High School Hall of Fame in 2005. In 1987 the new junior high school campus was named the H.R. Jefferies Junior High in honor of his 28 years of service to the students and families of Comanche ISD. He was a long-time member and servant of First Baptist Church of Comanche and the Comanche Lions Club. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family, golfing with his friends and three sons, and following high school athletics.
In 1955 H.R. met the love of his life, Rosemary Spencer of Cross Plains, TX; they were married on November 28, 1956, and remained so until death did them part. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years; sister Capitola Meyerdirk of Abilene; sons and daughter-in-laws David and Glenda of Corpus Christi, Spencer and Candace of Argyle, and Kirk and Ann of Fort Worth; grandchildren Brenna, Reagan, Jacob, Jewel, Henry, Annabelle, Cayley, Hattie and George; “adopted” grandchildren Sarah and Hayden Taylor; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Bruce James (B.J.) and Mamie Jefferies, and brothers Lenoir and Scott Jefferies.
H.R. Jefferies loved people and knew he was created for good works (Ephesians 2:10). He was a great man because he invested his life in serving others. He was a friend to all his students. Most of all, he was the best husband, father and grandfather there ever was.
Funeral arrangements handled by Heartland Funeral Home of Comanche. A service celebrating the life of H.R. Jefferies was held at First Baptist Church-Comanche on August 1 at 2pm, followed immediately thereafter by burial at Gardens of Memory Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the “H.R. Jefferies Scholarship Fund” has been established at Comanche National Bank to assist students pursuing higher education. The family would like to express its deepest appreciation to Aunt Cap, Rick and Kelly, and Bob and Beth who have faithfully ministered to H.R. and Rosemary.