Leona (Lee) Fae Jefson, 72, of Gering, passed away, Friday, February 21, 2014, at her home. Her memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel with Brad Staman officiating. Cremation has taken place. A memorial has been established to Panhandle Humane Society. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com
She was born April 21, 1941 at Butte, Nebraska to Louis Kenyon Niles and Marjorie Edna Peterson. She graduated from Scottsbluff High School.
She was married to Fred Jefson on December 1, 1971 at Norfolk and made their home in Fremont, NE and Jensen Beach, Florida. In Norfolk, Lee owned and operated a beauty salon and a Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio and Wig Shoppe. They moved to Fremont where she was a full time homemaker. Once her children graduated from high school, Fred and Lee made the move to Florida, which gave Lee the opportunity to work with the elderly. She became the executive director of a four – county Meals on Wheels program serving 1400 meals a day through 27 seniors sites and home delivery. At the same time she earned an undergraduate degree and a Masters degree from Barry University.
Lee was diagnosed with cancer in 1997. After an extended recovery period in Scottsbluff, she decided to stay to care for her ailing mother. Western Nebraska would remain her permanent home. Lee decided to return to her roots of Cosmetology. She opened Lee’s Skin Care and Permanent Cosmetics Center in Scottsbluff. Making people feel beautiful was always her passion and just knowing that Lee’s Skin Care has continued under new ownership gave her so much joy.
Lee has given a lifetime of love and support to everyone around her. She was an amazing person.
Survivors include her husband Fred Jefson; three children, Brad Kusel of Scottsbluff, Jarae Szydlowski and her husband Michael of Summerville, SC and Craig Kusel of Santa Clara, CA; four grandchildren Megan Aber, Rachel Smith, Elijah Kusel and Harry Kusel and two great grandchildren Gavin and Rose Aber; three sisters Mureil Bright of Blue Hill, NE, Marion Watson of Gering and Alice Niles of Gering.
She was preceded in death by her brother Bob Niles and parents Louie Niles and Marge Robertson.