Jeff Daniels McFerron, 83, Harrisonville, MO, died Sunday, September 9, 2007 at his home. Services 2:00 PM Thursday, September 13 at the Atkinson Chapel, Harrisonville with visitation 1:00-2:00 PM at the chapel. Burial in Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville. Contributions may be made to Crossroads Hospice.

Jeff was born February 24, 1924 in rural Siloam Springs, AR, the son of Paul and Bessie (Daniels) McFerron. He was raised on the family farm located a half mile from the Illinois River. His grandfather Daniels taught him to be a crack shot hunter and a fisherman. Jeff attended the Gum Springs Baptist Church with his family, where he gave his life to the Lord at a young age. His faith continued throughout his life. He attended Jay Bird Grade School and Siloam Springs High School, where he was an honor roll student. In high school, Jeff worked the farm with his father and was active in FFA. He raised champion pigs and the family corn received both red and blue ribbons at the Arkansas State Fair.

After Jeff graduated from high school in 1942, he studied electrical engineering at John Brown University in Siloam Springs. He was awarded a three-year scholarship to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, but he turned it down to serve his country in WWII. However, Uncle Sam encouraged him to pursue his education in high precision and low tolerance machining. After studying with the NYA in Little Rock, AR, Jeff then transferred to Seattle, WA to work for Boeing on the B-29 Superfortress, then to their Wichita, KS facilities and finally to Pratt & Whitney, where he worked on the Pratt & Whitney engine. It was while working for Pratt & Whitney that Jeff met the love of his life, Mary Louise Karg. They were married on December 22, 1945.

Jeff worked for various machine shops throughout the Kansas City area but he always clung to the idea that he would open his own shop. Finally Mary told him, "Well, I guess if you can make money for someone else, you can make money for yourself. Go on and build it." So in 1962, Jeff built a 2000 square foot shop on their five-acre homestead located just outside of Harrisonville and McFerron Tool and Machine Company was born.

In 1964, when U.S. Route 71 was expanded and claimed both their home and business, Jeff and Mary moved to town and opened up a new shop at 708 Short Street. Business continued to grow for Jeff and they annexed a building on North Independence Street. Finally, McFerron Tool outgrew both these buildings and in 1981 they built a new building with a 30,000 square foot production floor in the Harrisonville Industrial Park. In 1995, Jeff and Mary both retired, leaving the business to their only child, Patricia Louise and her husband, Bill Sparks. The business is thriving today, where they still receive phone calls asking for Jeff McFerron's expertise.

Jeff was a member of the Harrisonville First Baptist Church and a charter member of the Harrisonville Chamber of Commerce. He was also a past member of the NTMA, National Tooling and Machining Association.

Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, Sarah Jane and an infant brother, James Lee. He is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Mary, of the home; his "little girl", Patricia Sparks and her husband, Bill, Harrisonville, MO; one brother, Paul McFerron and his wife, Pat, Siloam Springs, AR and their family; his sister-in-law, Bessie Marie Justice, Pikeville, KY and her family; four grandsons, Jeffrey Brandon, David Daniel and his wife, Kathy, Gabriel Michael and Kevin Patrick and his wife, Ashley; two great-grandchildren, Daniel Patrick and Samantha Louise and a legacy of hard work and dedication to his family and community.

(Arrangements under the direction of Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville, MO).