Jeff Winters

Jeffrie (Jeff) Thomas Winters, 80, died June 11 2023 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants

Pass.  

  Jeff was born Feb. 9 1943 in Akron, Ohio to Betty Jeanne and Gene Winters of Cuyahoga

Falls, Ohio. He grew up in Cuyahoga Falls where he developed his love for sports. He

graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School and went on to attend Heidelberg University

graduating with a degree in education. Jeff was a junior high science teacher in Ohio in

Garrettsville and later in Aurora. He coached sports at both schools. In 1972 Jeff moved to

Glendale, Calif. where he worked with kids with developmental and physical disabilities

doing pool therapy as well as helping organize the Special Olympics for the city of Glendale.

While living in California he became interested in Frisbee and traveled all over the

country with friends competing in freestyle Frisbee competitions. In 1981 Jeff moved to Selma, Oregon.

He owned a plant maintenance business and worked as a school bus driver for several years. Jeff enjoyed being involved in city

 league slow pitch softball and basketball for many years and played softball into his 60s. He was an avid horse racing fan and a regular

at Grants Pass Downs. In 2001 Jeff started coaching boys’ basketball at Illinois Valley High School. He coached various teams

there for 12 years taking his varsity team to state in two consecutive years. Jeff and his

wife helped with the irrigation and hay harvest every summer at her family’s ranch which was

something he really enjoyed. Jeff did a lot of different things during his lifetime and his love

for sports lasted his whole life. Jeff is survived by his wife of 32 years Cheryl and his brother

Tom.

He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.