How do you summarize a person's life in a few paragraphs, let alone a fantastic person like Rick? Hell if I know, but we are going to try here. Ricky Gene Jefferson passed away on January 10th, 2022, surrounded by his wife and three sons. They walked him up to the gates of heaven; from there, his parents, loved ones, and good friends who had passed on before were all there to welcome him and take him the rest of the way. Rick was born to Gene and LaDean (Appenzeller) Jefferson on January 20th, 1958. He was second in line right behind his sister, Jeaninne (nicknamed, Nean), and then followed by Kurt (Dirk) and Diane (Dine). The very definition of a wild child, as soon as he could get to tearin' around, there was no stopping him. His father, Gene, knew precisely how to best utilize this new renewable energy source, putting him to work on the family farm at an early age. Rick and Kurt would spend a lot of their youth learning the art of agriculture, with all its splendor and heartache. Learnings that would carry on with the formation of Double J. Farms. Rick would grow up to become a full teenage rebel, the kind that could have easily graced any silver screen, handsome, charismatic, and athletic with a cool car (a 1972 Z-28 Camaro, to be exact). We could fill volumes with stories from his wild youth like how he burned donuts in the high school field house when it was being built, how on more than one occasion he had outrun the cops in his Camaro, or freely dispensing sage advice like, "If you're sliding around while driving on a muddy road, you're driving too slow." But these are all stories best shared in the company of good friends with a drink in hand. As Rick's life transitioned into adulthood, this rebel would become a husband on May 16th, 1987, when he married Linda DeFelice. And from this union would come three boys: Michael (Stud), Mathew (Buckwheat, later transitioning to Bucky), and Myles (his Best Buddy). Rick would have many roles in his life, and he would be many things to many people; but none was more important to him than being a husband and father. When he was a toddler, Michael would be so excited when his dad would come home from a long day's work that he would make Rick run with him from one end of the house to the other end several times over. Exhausted, but always a good sport, he obliged. Rick shared the music from his youth with his boys, but it would be with Mathew that this would create a special bond; fueling a lifelong obsession with bands like The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and so many others. Rick was an exclusive member and still the only one allowed into the "Best Buddy Club'' with Myles. Linda was a member for a brief second when Myles got upset with Rick. A short apology was all Rick needed to be reinstated and Linda's membership was effectively revoked. Rick didn't know a stranger and would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He had strong bonds with all those in his life. But when cell phones became more prevalent, they helped reinforce these bonds even further—spending hours BS'ing, connecting one friend in need of a specific part with another friend who had the missing part, rolling through his contacts list to find out how much rain had fallen after a thunderstorm, and continuing to offer his brand of sage advice. The Bluetooth earpiece would further revolutionize his ability to BS; he could talk on the phone and work simultaneously; this was a gamechanger. He could BS with the best of 'em, which is a talent in and of itself, but it's how genuine Rick was that deserves recognition here. It was quite possibly his most substantial and most understated gift. He was one that when you talked to him, he gave you his undivided attention, he really listened, he didn't just wait for his turn to speak. That kind of genuine soul acts as a magnet, drawing people in and keeping them in orbit to bask in the warmth of their company. Rick is preceded in death by his parents, Gene and LaDean; his grandparents, Roy and Isophene Jefferson, and Elmer and Mildred Appenzeller; his sister-in-law, Dena Brosh; his niece, Alex DeFelice; his faithful dog, Patches; and many good friends Rick is survived by his wife, Linda Jefferson; his three sons: Michael, Mathew, and Myles; his brother and wife, Kurt and Gisele Jefferson; his sisters and their spouses, Jeaninne and Delbert Koch, and Diane and Kirk Wells; and several nieces, nephews, and friends. And with that, Rick, you wild-child-rebel-eternally-cool-genuinely-goodsoul, you may rest now, your work is done.

A memorial service was held Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at the Washington County Event Center.  See https://youtu.be/chXC3L2Ck70 for the livestream.

A private family inurnment will be held at a later date at the Akron Cemetery.  Memorial donations may be made to his family.