Earl Autry Jeffrey passed away on Sunday evening, September 10, 2017 at his home in Wilburton, OK. Earl was born April 12, 1943, at the family home west of Wilburton to D.H. and Bonnie Jean (Newsom) Jeffrey. He grew up on the family farm, working with cattle and horses from a young age. In 1951, at the age of 8, he was baptized and spent many summers attending church camp at Robbers Cave State Park. He graduated from Wilburton High School in 1960 and went on to earn both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. Upon graduating from college, he taught high school Biology for one year at Kinta High School. At that time, he wrote a grant that funded the first Community Action program for Haskell County; he subsequently served as the director of that program until being drafted into the United States Air Force in 1966. Upon returning home from the military, he continued his public service work with the Community Action Manpower Programs. Through these programs, he was instrumental in helping many people enter the workforce in a multi-county area. Upon leaving that position, he became self-employed as a general contractor on numerous construction projects across Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and Nebraska. Earl loved Latimer County and the Wilburton community and was dedicated to improving the quality of life for the citizens of this area. He served on the Latimer County Hospital Board, later volunteering his time as the Latimer County Hospital Administrator. In 1991, Earl was elected to serve as Mayor of the City of Wilburton, a position he held until 1994. He was a former chairman of the local chapter of the American Red Cross and was a current member of the American Legion. In addition to Earl's civic duties, he was a licensed real-estate broker for the State of Oklahoma. He was also a member of the Wilburton Masonic Lodge, the McAlester Consistory, and the Bedouin Shrine of Muskogee. Earl had a passion for the western way of life. As a young man, Earl competed across the nation as a steer wrestler in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and became a Gold Card Member of the PRCA. Throughout Earl's adult life, he owned and operated Jeffrey Cattle Company, where he raised both registered and crossbred cattle. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, D.H. and Bonnie Jean Jeffrey. Services will be held Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 1 pm at Jones-Harkins Funeral Home Chapel in Wilburton, OK. Interment will follow at Centerpoint Cemetery. Following the service, the family will receive friends at Centerpoint Community Building for refreshments and fellowship. Services are under the direction of Jones-Harkins Funeral Home in Wilburton, OK.