William Angus Jefcoat Jr.

After 88 wonderful years, Bill had his prayed-for soft landing at home and knew about when his ‘expiration date’ (in his words) was to be.

He is survived by his loving spouse of 44 years, Claudia who he lovingly called Annie; sons, William A. Jefcoat III, Andrew (Monica) Jefcoat, Donald (Lori) Knox and Brian (Daviet) Knox; eight grandchildren, Ian and Gannon Jefcoat, Sarah (Jake) VanZalen, Rachel Knox, Briana Knox, Elizabeth (Jonathan) Steinmeier, Jason Knox and Emily Knox; two great grandchildren, David Steinmeier and Jeremy VanZalen. He is also survived by niece, Jenny (Chuck) Schaeffer and her two daughters, and nephew Stephen Jefcoat and his son.

He is predeceased by his parents, Mabel and William A. Jefcoat, and brother, Connor Jefcoat.

As a sales rep for Dr. Pepper and Sunkist Soft Drinks, he called on clients around the country and traveled internationally. Later, as the owner of the Book Barn in Lansing and Haslett for 17 years, he continued to “meet and greet” customers and friends; something that brought him great joy!

Bill left his family with so many cherished memories…

His laugh, one of pure joy, was unforgettable, and he was blessed with a witty sense of humor. His story telling was so colorful and descriptive, few could hold a listener’s attention better. Always the happiest around people, Bill could easily be the life of the party, but was keenly aware of when to release the spotlight to others. He was frequently the first to appreciate the amusement in someone else’s joke or funny story, and his enthusiastic laugh undoubtedly brought others to LOL, too.

Drawing on his passion for fun and his love of people and sports, Bill and Annie hosted a Kentucky Derby party for countless years. He also enjoyed emceeing the Chas Classic golf tournament making jokes about prizes given.

His intensity and charisma for sport and competition were well rounded, though. Whether it was the Super Bowl, a Tiger game, one of his grandkids’ ballgames, or even sitting around the table for cards, Bill was in his element and genuine in his celebrations. He literally jumped up and down when his favorite team made an incredible play or game winning shot.

Bill continued to enjoy sports during his last couple of months in hospice care, taking in March Madness and the Masters Tournament and talking to the family about the scores and special shots. Once he even sent Annie and their grandsons to the neighborhood party store to check on his backroom bracket!

Although winning and losing mattered to him, nobody could console after a loss better or wittier than Bill. Once his grandson struck out 3 times in a game and he told his grandpa afterwards that he couldn’t see the laser fastball of his opponent; Grandpa quipped quickly, “neither could I.”

Like with his grandson, if you needed a fan in your corner, Bill was the one. He would never be considered soft, but he was very compassionate especially for a “man’s man” of his generation. He really touched people’s hearts and their feelings. Known for sentimental and hilarious birthday notes sometimes written in circles without any spaces, he would spend a year figuring out what to write. He also took great joy in celebrating his love’s Annie’s birthday for a whole week each year.

Whether it was a birthday or an ordinary day, he brought joy and levity to family, friends and those in the bank, restaurant, post office or grocery store alike. And more times than not, he would have stories to tell about the “unhockey game”, pretzeling himself after the Homecoming game, Annie’s drag racing a Mustang on Michigan Avenue, and climbing a rope ladder at a Knob Hill restaurant. Further, he delighted Annie and their grandchildren with scavenger hunts, vanilla milk, feet smelling like rooooses and declaring the family room off limits to jig dancing.

Bill was always the biggest fan of his beautiful bride Annie. During his last few months, literally every time he saw her, he would make sure to tell her how amazing and special she was and how he had won the lottery with her. Their relationship was built to last and beautifully balanced.

The family is planning a memorial service for this summer.