Jeffry Leander Olson

Jeffry Leander Olson, a longtime resident of Ormond Beach, went home to our Heavenly Father Saturday, February 11. Jeff was born July 20, 1955 in Hartford, Connecticut. He spent his first 10 years in Warren, Pennsylvania and then moved with his family to Daytona. He graduated from Seabreeze High School in 1973. He was a hard-worker and a leader. From childhood, Jeff had a paper route, mowed lawns, and was a founder of the Rockefeller Rinky Dinks. He had a passion for building from the age of 14, when he and friends built an underground club house complete with electricity and ventilation. At 16 he worked for Jim Carey's construction company. On weekends he helped organize flower stand businesses on the street corners. In the late 1970's he met his first wife, Jeanne Howell. They moved to West Palm Beach where Jeff was project manager over the building of the Briarwood Development. The developer was so impressed with Jeff that he helped him get his builder's license and then his general contractor's license. In 1979 Jeff started Jeff L. Olson Construction and went on to build Marcell Garden Apartments, Marcell Medical Center, and a number of custom homes throughout the Daytona area. Owning his business took a toll on his marriage, ending in divorce. Jeff met his second wife Jamie Moore on a blind date on a yacht later dubbed "The Love Boat," for it was love at first sight for them. They were married in 2000. Jeff went on to build everything from high-rise buildings, schools, commercial buildings, and even a jail, while working for Bob Mathews Construction out of Jacksonville. He longed to get back to building in the Daytona area and went to work for the Hall Brothers, and ultimately for Strasser Construction. In the early 2000's, he was named Builder of the Year. In 2009 he was President of the Volusia Building Industry Association. Jeff worked hard, but he also knew how to have fun. He is best remembered for his amazing sense of humor, quick wit, kindness, honesty, generosity, good looks and great smile. He loved a good joke or prank and was often the life of the party with his funny stories. He loved to cook and entertain friends in his dinner club. Put on some southern rock 'n roll and he'd be dancing up a storm. He would always say, "I never met a stranger." He was devoted to family & friends. He spent his childhood summers with his grandparents Benny and Marce Dugo, working in their flooring business and spending weekends on their houseboat. He enjoyed surfing with friends, working with his father Clair L. Olson for many years, and building properties developed by his mother Maria DuVal. Jeff loved Christmas in Nashville, playing Santa for young nieces and nephews. He was a huge NASCAR fan and never missed a Daytona 500 for 50 years straight. He grew up with many animals. Jeff especially loved his dog Boo. He was preceded in death by grandparents Roger & Elise Olson, Ben & Marcella Dugo, and his father Clair Olson. He is survived by his wife Jamie Moore, mother Maria DuVal, mother-in-law Shirley Jones, sisters Tina McClasky (Greg and children Jason & Lauren), Sonya Olson (Ed Maciejko), Jacqueline Boornazian (Charles and children Evan, Tara, and Ava), Aunt Carol Samuel, & eight cousins, sisters-in-law Nicki Clark (Jack) and Christina Blackburn (Burt), nieces-in-law Stephanie Cornelius Miller (Mark), Stacy Maciuk (James), and Cyndi Zimmerman (Matt), and grandnieces-in-law and nephews-in-law Haley, Brenden, Jo Jo, Jaelin, Isabella, Mia, and Savanna. Visitation will be held Friday, February 17 from 5-8 pm, with Memorial Service on Saturday, February 18 at 1 pm at Lohman Funeral Home, 733 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach. Flowers welcome. Memorial contributions may be made to the Halifax Humane Society. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Jeffry Leander Olson please visit our Sympathy Store.