Most Worshipful Brother Jefferson J. Ensworth was born on a farm near Enterprise, Kansas, on June 7, 1920. He was the next to the youngest son of Irvine and Elizabeth Ensworth in a family of nine boys and five girls.
He attended elementary school in Abilene, and had the great experience for two of those years to attend a one-room country school whichincluded grades one through eight. He graduated from Abilene High School in1938 where he had the honor of being president of his senior class andcaptain of the football team.
Most Worshipful Brother Ensworth came to the Northwest in 1939 and settledin Vernonia, Oregon, where he was employed by the Oregon Gas and ElectricCompany. On June 18, 1940 he married his childhood sweetheart, ElmaMonroe. They had two children and six grandchildren.
The Ensworths moved to Longview, Washington, in September 1942 where hewas employed by the Weyerhaeuser Company in the electrical departmentuntil his enlistment in the United States Navy in 1943, serving in aconstruction battalion. He received his honorable discharge in 1946 with aMagnetic Mine Warfare group.
Upon his return from the Navy, he took a night job at Weyerhaeuser whichenabled him to attend Lower Columbia College in the daytime.On June 6,1948, he graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree. After completing a Lumber Manufacturing Course conducted by the Weyerhaeuser Company on June 8, 1953, he was advanced into supervisory positions, first as Assistant Planer Mill Foreman, then in succession as Yard and Transportation Foreman, Power House Foreman, Power House Superintendent, Project Engineer, Electrical and Construction Foreman, and Planner Scheduler in the Plywood Division. After thirty-six years of service, he retired in 1978.
Our Most Worshipful Brother’s Masonic journey began on February 19, 1942, when he was initiated into Vernonia Lodge No. 184, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Oregon. He would later affiliate with Kelso Lodge No. 94, on October 7, 1949, and served this Lodge in all offices except that of Treasurer and Secretary. He was a Life Member of Kelso Lodge No. 94, and Vernonia Lodge No. 184; a member of Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281; and honorary member of Longview Lodge No. 263, Kalama Lodge No. 17, and Paul Revere Lodge No. 205.
Jeff's other Masonic affiliations include Life Member, 33rd Degree Inspector General Honorary of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Kelso; member of Afifi Temple of the Shrine; Q. C. Correspondence Circle Ltd., QuatuorCoronati Lodge No. 2076; National Sojourners, Fort Lewis Chapter No. 89; and Royal Order of Scotland.
During his years of service to the Craft, Jeff received many appointments to Grand Lodge offices and committees: Grand Standard Bearer, Grand Marshal, member and Chairman of the Committee for the Endowment of the Masonic Home, Deputy of the Grand Master in District No. 18, Grand Lecturer, and Grand Historian. He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1983 and succeeded through the stations to his election as Grand Master in 1986.
Jeff was a great story teller. His gift of communication was partly attributed to his charter membership in the "Early Words" Toastmaster Club of Longview which he helped to form, and while a member completed the Toastmaster's Communication and Leadership Program on August 26, 1972. His favorite subject was dogs. One story that isremembered was that he (Jefferson) had received a phone call from a neighborlate onenight complaining that Jefferson’s dog was barking. Jefferson didn'treply until the next night at the same time and called to report that he didn'thave a dog.Such was life under the leadership of a Brother who was loved and respectedby all.
Most Worshipful Brother Jefferson was called from labor on July 6, 2010.