Jeffrey Gavin

    Jeffrey Scott Gavin, age 45, of Tucson, Az., died Friday morning, June 10, 2011, after heroically battling leukemia. He was, and forever will be, a beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend.

    Jeff was born in Little Rock, Ark., to John Max Gavin and Eileen Krablin. After graduating from Catholic High, he obtained a computer engineering degree from Henderson State and then a masters degree from UA Fayetteville, Ark. He eloped with his college sweetheart, Kim, during his mission work with the Southern Baptist Student Missionaries. Jeff was very proud of the fact SBC created a new rule prohibiting such actions in the future! His job then took him to Dallas, Texas, Ridgecrest, Calif., Arkadelphia, Ark. and finally to Tucson. In his last job at Raytheon, he was voted by his peers as Employee of the Month in April, 2011. Everywhere he lived he made lifetime friends such as his buddies, Carl and Bob. He was notorious for pulling out all the stops on the church organ for his finales in each town. He liked to go out with a bang!
    Jeff will be forever remembered by his best friend and wife of 23 short years, Kim, and their incredible children, Andrew, 16, Catherine, 13, Georgia, 10, Charlotte, 7 and Silvia, 4. Jeff will also be forever remembered by his mother, Eileen Krablin; his brother, Phillip Gavin; his sisters, Marion Gavin, Kathy Bailey and Tammy Freeman and extended family and dear friends. So many people, everyone who met Jeff, was touched by his sense of humor and empathy. Above all though, he was an exceptional father and husband. With his love, strength and devotion, he gave his family everything he had, including valiantly fighting his diagnosis. Everyone should be so blessed by God to have such a husband and father.
    A celebration of his life was held at Desert Skies United Methodist Church in Tucson on Saturday, June 18, with the Rev. Dan officiating. In lieu of flowers, his wife asks that memorials be made to a tax deductible educational fund for his children established at Desert Skies UMC: 3255 N. Houghton Rd., Tucson, AZ 85749, 520-749-0521.
    Arrangements by Bring’s Broadway Chapel, 6910 E. Broadway.