A Sister’s Story
By Jennifer Jordan
I can still feel my mom’s finger nails poking my
underarms as she lifted me onto the bed to meet my
new brother. “Be easy,” Mom said as I independently
tried to pick him up. I remember being so proud of
the doll we called, Jeff. Our childhood was special
and centered around family. We called the 82 acres
of family farm land in Magnolia, Texas we were
raised on, “The Hill”. We were surrounded by all of
our cousins, leaving no room for boredom. If we had
one, we had 10 tree houses landscaped with poison
ivy and sticker burs. The “country cousins” was what
we affectionately called, and we even had a float in
the Magnolia Christmas parade.
“Jenn! Jenn…wake-up. Santa came….he’s been here!
Come on!!” I recall hearing Jeff’s whisper in my ear
before daylight. I remember being so tired, but his
excitement made me forget that we had only been
asleep for a few hours.
Milestones and Memories
This past Christmas was the first time I wasn’t
able to pick out the perfect gift for my brother. It
was our first Christmas without him. Instead of
shopping for him, I went to the cemetery with my
family so could hang a wreath on his grave.
With the coming of January, there was another
milestone to pass...Jeff’s birthday. I had a party
with all of our cousins to celebrate his life. For
his present we took a cowboy hat covered in flowers,
trimmed with a feather on the brim, to the cemetery.
Pastures surround the cemetery where Jeff is
buried. In the pastures, longhorns graze. There is a
bench nearby. It is where I go to think quietly and
pray for peace.
”Come on Jenn”...”man you take forever to get
ready!” Jeff was always waiting on me for a ride to
school. So many memories ... saving him from having
to ride the bus in high school, cheering for him
when I was a senior and he was a freshman. He made
the Varsity football team at Magnolia High School as
a freshman... quite an accomplishment. Most of my
family, including my grandma and grandpa went to
Magnolia High School.
In high school, Jeff was an awesome athlete. To
this day, there are still records he set hanging in
the locker room. He was so handsome and a “great
time” no matter where we were.
In the summer we would go to the Blanco river in
San Marcos to a camp called Little Arkansas...”Mom
are you taping?...I’m going to do a back flip…watch
Jenn...” Then out of a tree he came, swinging from a
rope and rotating backward into the water. He got a
roar from everyone floating on the river.
Everything I do and everywhere I go I am reminded
of Jeff. He is my very first memory; he is the voice
in my head and will forever be the one I miss. I
look at my son, Gus and can not imagine him not
knowing Jeff like I did. Jeff was so proud to
finally be an uncle. Gus was only five months old
when Jeff left us.
Since Jeff has been gone, Gus has sat up for the
first time, cut his first tooth, and started
crawling. It makes me sad that Jeff was not here to
be a part of the life he was so excited about
sharing.
“Oh my gosh, look at your belly…how much longer?”
Jeff could not wait to meet his niece or nephew. The
day that Jeff became an uncle, he was also accepted
into Texas A&M. He even brought the letter to show
me in the hospital. It was a wonderful day, but
never did I expect that he would be robbed of
graduating and following his lifelong dream of being
an Aggie…
“Coming out of gate four, your rider –Jeff
Ingram!” The announcer brought chills and adrenalin
to my body as I waited for Jeff to ride for the
Texas A&M Bull riding championship. The horn blew
and Jeff was still on the back of the bull that won
him the 2003 Bull Riding Championship. He jumped off
and threw his hat high in the air and looked over at
us with the smile of a champion. Jeff wore the A&M
buckle proudly, he felt accomplished and humbled by
the experience. My dad now wears the buckle, and one
day it will be worn by Gus. I worry a lot about Gus
not knowing the cowboy that won it. My family and
friends reassure me that my son will know Jeff
through the stories we tell, but I know it will not
be the same as living life with him.
A Tragic Loss
I never thought that I would be writing about my
brother’s life after his death. I thought he would
have out-lived us all. He will never comb gray hair;
he will never need glasses to see or a cane to walk.
He will be young forever, ever handsome always and
never forgotten by the ones that were blessed to
know him.
The saying “life can change in an instant” hit
home for my family and me on October 21, 2006.
Lights came over the lawn while I was sitting
outside. I got up and went to see who was there and
was met by law enforcement officers. My heart sank
and I knew that something horrible was about to be
revealed. I was holding on to my cousin and my dad
was in front of me listening. I heard them say that
Jeff was gone. The pain in my heart was so great,
not only for me, but for my parents. The worst day I
could have imagined has become a reality.
Neither my family nor I was ever able to see Jeff
without life. We were robbed of a great man who
deserved nothing but love. The last time I saw Jeff
was at a family wedding. We were dancing, smiling
and laughing. I am so glad for that time we had
together and our last dance. I remember the last
things he said to me were, “See you later Jenn. Be
careful. I love you.”
The facts of the case can’t be revealed here
because the investigation on Jeff’s case is still
open. I pray for truth, for it is there we will find
peace. Jeff will live on through his family and
friends and will never die…for nothing loved is ever
lost.
Finding Closure
Family and friends of Jeff need your help to
solve this case. Anyone with information regarding
the death of Jeff Ingram should call Grimes County
Crime Stoppers at: (936) 873-2000. A reward of up to
$5,000 for the arrest and conviction of
person/persons involved in the case of Jeffery Ryan
Ingram is being offered and all names and
information given will remain anonymous.
In Jeff’s memory, the family has started the
Jeffery Ingram Memorial Scholarship Foundation to
raise funds for a scholarship that will be awarded
to a student at Magnolia High School (Jeff’s Alma
Mater) so that they may follow their dreams of
higher education. It will go to a student who is
like Jeff in that they have a fighting heart, strong
dedication, and a love for life. Even people that
knew Jeff for only a short time knew what his family
has known all along; he was a smile you could count
on, a loyal friend, hard worker, fierce competitor,
fighting warrior and now, our angel. Help us
celebrate a life we miss, cherish and love by being
a part of this worthy cause.
WHAT: The Jeffery Ingram Memorial Scholarship
Foundation Golf Tournament WHEN: July 14, 2007
WHERE: High Meadow Ranch Golf Club MORE INFO:
www.JEFFINGRAM.com or email
jenniferjordan10[at]msn.com
The family and Memorial Foundation appreciate
your donations and support. Current needs include
auction items, sponsorships, players for the
tournament, and your prayers.
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