Jefferson Francis "Jeff" Jeter, Jr. of Dade City, Florida, passed away Friday, December 11, 2020 at the age of 81. Born April 19, 1939 in Climax, Georgia, he was a 1957 graduate of Pasco High School of Dade City where he played baseball and football, receiving a scholarship for the latter to Holmes Junior College of Goodman, Mississippi. He earned his degree in animal husbandry from the University of Florida in 1961, where he was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. A longtime livestock broker in the beef cattle industry, he began his career at Carey Cattle Company in Brandon, Florida, before relocating to Dade City and founding his own beef business, J Cattle Company, in 1972. He was a trustee with the Pasadena Baptist Church of Dade City and a member of the Florida Cattleman's Association, Florida State Fair Youth Livestock Committee, National Rifle Association and the National Wild Turkey Federation and enjoyed a long association with the Producers Livestock Auction of San Angelo, Texas, and the Okeechobee Livestock Market. In 2017 he was recognized by the Florida Cattleman's Association for his dedicated service to the state's cattle industry, receiving the title of Outstanding Florida Cracker Cowman and Honorary Team Captain at the Florida Ranch Rodeo State Finals and Cowboy Heritage Festival in Kissimmee. He is survived by his wife, Johnnie Ruth "Sue" Burrell Jeter; daughter Karen Jeter of Dade City; sons Jeff III and Johnny Jeter (Shannon), both of Dade City; and grandsons Todd Jeter (Kim) of Bandon, Oregon; and Isaac Jeter and Nathan Jeter, both of Dade City; and two great-granddaughters, Willow and Sadie Jeter of Bandon, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his parents, J.F. and Inez Jeter of Dade City; a sister, Frances Jackson of Dade City; a brother, William C. "Dub" Jeter of Columbiana, Alabama; and a granddaughter, Marissa Jeter of Dade City. Graveside services will be held at 10:30am on December 18, 2020 at Chapel Hill Gardens of Dade City. In lieu of flowers, friends and family are asked to make donations in his name to Moffitt Cancer Center, American Diabetes Association, Shriners Hospitals for Children or the Salvation Army.

Chapel Hill Gardens