Gorda Jeffcoat Appoloni

Gorda Jeffcoat Appoloni was called home to heaven on Dec. 6, 2009, in Moses Lake, Washington, at the ripe “young” age of 90.

Gorda was born Cerro Gorda Carter, in Paducah, Texas on Oct. 18, 1919 to Rayford and Anna Carter, and the youngest of seven children. She married Byron Lee Jeffcoat Sr., on June 5, 1938. They made their living as farmers in Texas, New Mexico and finally in California, where they bought an orange grove, growing the sweetest citrus, and semi-retired.

Gorda loved to paint, both in oil and watercolor and painted until her death, decorating her room at Columbia Crest. She was also asked to give an art show at the home, much to the admiration of residents and staff. She was a published poet, writing about people and things in her life as well as her love of our Lord. Many of her poems were published in the Salesian Missions booklets and she published two books of poetry. While at the home, she helped to develop and maintain a library there for the residents use, made possible by donated books.

Known as “Nana” to her family, she found joy in everyday life, especially in her love of the ocean and was an avid volunteer, working as a Pink Lady at the local hospital in California. After her husband Byron passed away, she went back to school and earned her Associate of Arts degree at Crafton Hills Community College, graduating in 1975. She was a wealth of information about the “Good Ole Days” and loved to tell stories of her childhood. She told of being kicked in the head by a mule, being burned by wash-water boiling on a wood stove, of picking cotton in the west Texas heat and general life on the farm. Gorda told of the trials of the Great Depression, World War II and of painting nylons on her legs. She recently celebrated her 90th birthday with most of her family at her side.

Gorda moved to Washington from Yucaipa, California in 2004 to be near her daughter and 2 of her granddaughters and their families. She made her home at Columbia Crest Nursing Home (formerly Sunbridge), where she made many friends among the other residents and staff.

Gorda is survived by her daughter Colleen Zimmer of Moses Lake, her sons, Lee Jeffcoat and wife Susan of Yucaipa, California, and Lowell Jeffcoat and his wife Kathi of Sandy, Utah. Also 8 grandchildren, Vicki Sullivan and Cheryl Baker of Moses Lake, Richard Zimmer of Dawson City, Yukon, Donavon Jeffcoat of Oxnard, Katy Jeffcoat-Burns of San Diego, California, Melody Cameron of Adena, Ohio, Jeremy Jeffcoat of Yuma and Timothy Jeffcoat, Scottsdale, Arizona, all with respective spouses. She also had 12 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Byron, her parents, all six of her siblings, a granddaughter, Lori Fields, two great grandsons.

A memorial service will be held at Columbia Crest Nursing Home, at 1100 E. Nelson Road, Moses Lake, on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 2 pm, with Pastor Jody Bowser of Moses Lake Alliance Church, officiating. A graveside service will be held at Montecito Cemetery in Colton, California on Dec. 21, at 10 am, where Gorda will join her husband, Byron. Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel & Crematory, Moses Lake. Please sign the online guest book or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com.

Gorda will be greatly missed by her family and by all of her friends at Columbia Crest Nursing home.