M. Lorene Jeffrey, 95, of Mexico, Missouri, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Monday, July 6, 2026, at The King’s Daughters Home in Mexico, Missouri. 

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Arnold Funeral Home in Mexico. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Arnold Funeral Home with Rev. Jimmy Stewart and Rev. Rich Neeley officiating. Burial will follow at East Lawn Memorial Park, where she will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, James Lee Jeffrey. 

Lorene was born on January 24, 1931, in Springfield, Illinois, the daughter of Loren Lawrence and Margaret Faye (Erwin) Lawrence. 

On December 2, 1951, she married the love of her life, James Lee Jeffrey, in Hannibal, Missouri. Together they shared more than fifty years of marriage and built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work. Their farm was more than a place they lived—it was the heart of their family, where they raised their children, worked side by side, welcomed loved ones, and created countless cherished memories. 

Lorene devoted her life to caring for others. As a Registered Nurse at Audrain Medical Center, she spent many years helping welcome countless babies into the world. Her gentle hands, compassionate heart, and calm presence touched the lives of countless families throughout the community. She carried that same spirit of service into every aspect of her life, always putting others before herself. 

A faithful member of Union Baptist Church, Lorene lived each day with quiet faith and unwavering trust in God. Her favorite hymn, In the Garden, reflected both her love of the Lord and her joy in tending flowers and gardens. Her favorite Scripture, Psalm 23, was a source of comfort throughout her life and beautifully reflected the peace she found in her faith. 

Whether she was helping welcome a new baby into the world, working alongside Jim on the family farm, tending her flowers, or capturing another family photograph, Lorene found joy in caring for others and preserving life’s most precious moments. Her carefully kept scrapbooks, photographs, and newspaper clippings became a priceless gift to her family, ensuring their stories would never be forgotten. 

Above all else, Lorene loved her family. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished grandmother, proud great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. Her gentle spirit, servant’s heart, warm smile, and quiet grace made everyone who knew her feel welcomed and loved. Her life was a beautiful reflection of faith, family, and service, and the legacy she leaves behind will continue to bloom in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. 

Lorene is survived by her children, Teresa Caldwell of Perry, Missouri; Dr. Robert Jeffrey and wife, Sachi, of Granada Hills, California; and Larry Jeffrey and wife, Dorothy, of Mexico, Missouri; along with her 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, extended family, and many dear friends. 

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Lee Jeffrey; her infant son, David Allen Jeffrey (1958); her son, James Morris Jeffrey (1981); her daughter, Linda Donette Druger (2024); and her parents. 

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Union Baptist Church, The King’s Daughters Home in Mexico, Missouri, or Compassus Hospice in Columbia, Missouri, in honor of Lorene’s life and the compassionate care she both gave and received. 

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” — Psalm 23:6