Mr Jeffrey Donald LeFors

Jeffrey Donald LeFors
11/25/1958 to 1/5/2022

Jeff was born in Fresno, CA and attended St. Theresa’s for 1st grade. After that, his family moved to Los Angeles and then Arroyo Grande, where he spent most of his adolescence. He was active in 4H in animal husbandry. He rose to every challenge and occasion; he never gave up. He took on responsibilities at a young age, becoming the man of the house at the age of 15 when his father died; stepping up and taking care of many things that most would not have endeavored.

Jeff started his career as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist but quickly rose to be a respected and much-loved laboratory manager at Clovis Community Hospital and then an Executive Director at Valley Children’s Hospital. Jeff was intelligent, supportive, and fair, described by colleagues as “a joy to work with.” He started every day with a Diet Pepsi and an installment of his latest dog owner story. He supported and promoted his employees; as a manager he was firm, with an eye for the bottom line, but always caring and understanding. The Clovis staff said simply, “We loved him.” He had a huge wit and such a love for fun even if it was directed at him. After his medical career, Jeff farmed with Lasgoity Ranches and also harvested almonds with his wife, Monica.

Jeff was incredibly talented in many, diverse areas – he was a guitarist, an electrician, a plumber and a gifted mechanic. He developed his electrical and plumbing skills through years of Saturday work with Habitat for Humanity and learned his mechanical skills as a child, working with his father.

His main love was to restore old machines. He refurbished the John Deere 4240 that has been used for 12 years during almond harvest. Other restorations included a Ford Tractor, “Grandpa Jean’s 1972 Yellow Pickup”, and finally the 1987 Model 359 Peterbilt truck (#23 of 379 built in that last year of its era). In each case, he took the vehicle down to individual nuts and bolts, repaired parts and then rebuilt the vehicle.

He had an encyclopedic mind for any blood disease, any rock and roll song, and any combination of movie/actor/director. His knowledge exceeded trivia; if you were to search the Encyclopedia Britannica or Wikipedia for “Blood Diseases,” “Rock & Roll,” or “Actors/Directors”, the entries would say: “See Jeff LeFors.” He was our go-to person for all Rock & Roll details as he was faster and better than Shazam.

He will be greatly missed for so many reasons.
Jeff loved fun and believed in people’s abilities. Every child he encountered holds Jeff’s kindness and faith in them in their hearts. For example:
-Jeff gave a 13 year old her first (never before behind the wheel) driving lesson in his pickup. After she mastered the pickup, he proceeded to let her drive, alone, one of our new almond sweepers. His faith in her was empowering and liberating.
-Jeff is the only adult, in our acquaintance, who not only purchased the book “Backyard Ballistics” but proceeded to build the rubber band gun, the potato cannon, and the Gatling gun. He also fine-tuned the potato cannon with a larger fuel canister and a tighter barrel, to the delight of his legion of ballistics fans.
-He very willingly acted as a job reference for Eric and then proceeded to text Eric with the following:
o“Hey Eric, just had a nice reference call with Greg from some adventure travel company about you. I felt compelled to tell him what a lousy human being you are and told him about you and the “Incident”. If you are approached by Federal Marshals, I advise you to surrender and not make any sudden moves.
Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, Lester Donald LeFors and Therese Mae Doucette. He leaves behind his wife, Monica Lasgoity, his sister Michelle LeFors and her partner Sharon Caneva, his step-sister Debbie Harris, his in-laws Rosemary Lasgoity, Michele Lasgoity and Mark Peters, John and Alyson Lasgoity, Jim Lasgoity, and his nieces and nephews: Matthew and Benjamin Harris, Christine and Eric Peters, Julia, Claire, Paul and Elise Lasgoity.

Jeff battled cancer for eight years. We thank each and every one of you for the help and support you provided during those years. As one friend said: “His tenacity and good humor through everything is an inspiring example to emulate for all of us who were lucky enough to know and care for him.”

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating to your favorite charity. Jeff supported Madera County Historical Society, Habitat for Humanity of Fresno County, the Red Cross of Central California, Madera County Farm Bureau Scholarship fund, the Madera County Cattleman’s Association Scholarship Fund.

A celebration of Jeff will be held in the spring. We hope you will join us.