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Kenai resident Jacen Allen Jeffrey died Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, Wash., with his family by his side after a three-week battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 46.

A celebration of Jacen's life will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 9 at Peninsula Memorial Chapel, 5839 Kenai Spur Hwy. in Kenai. Pastor Chuck Thornton will officiate. Light snacks will follow the service at the funeral home.

Mr. Jeffrey was born June 17, 1961 to Roy and Carleta Jeffrey in Amarillo, Texas. He moved to Alaska and became a resident of Kenai in 2000. He worked as a correction officer at Wild Wood Correctional Complex in Kenai.

The family wrote, "His love for the outdoors brought him such joy, through fishing, hunting, and flying. He was gentle, kind, and extremely conscientious. Jacen was a devoted husband to his lovely wife, Krissy, whom he met in 2002 and married in 2006. He was a loving father to all of his children. He will be remembered by those who loved him for all of these qualities: the sparkle in his eye, his mischievous sense of humor, his honesty and decency, but most of all he will be remembered as a fine man, a good man, and a man of true character."

Mr. Jeffrey was preceded in death by his grandparents, Roy Sr. and Thelma Jeffrey, and Carl and Myrtle Goodwin; nephew, Stacy Vassey; mother in-law, Sally Bailie and brother in-law, Christopher Copple.

He is survived by his wife, Kristine Jeffrey of Kenai; sons, Tanner Jeffrey of Fort Worth, Texas and Zach Jeffrey of Oklahoma City; daughters, Nikki Jeffrey of Kenai and Jacee Jeffrey of Colville, Wash.; stepdaughters, Erin Vilhauer of Puyallup, Wash., Morgan Hansen of Davenport, Iowa, Jordan Hansen of Kenai, Caity Hansen of Puyallup, and Kiley Hansen of Kenai; grandson, Aedan Vilhauer of Puyallup; father, Roy Jeffery and his wife, Neva, of Wellington, Texas; mother, Carleta and her husband, Rick Fernandes, of Amarillo, Texas; brother, Ray Jeffrey; sisters Karen Jones of Baytown, Texas and Leigh Ann Vassey of Denton, Texas; step-brother, Lee Langford of Blue Spring, Mo.; and all of his extended family.

Memorial donations may be made to The National Foundation for Cancer Research, 4600 East West Hwy. Ste. #525 Betheseda, MD 20814.

Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.