Kenneth Gifford

Kenneth Gifford, age 72 of Deport joined the Lord God he loved and served, on Friday, November 3, 2011. A celebration of his life will be held at Calvary Chapel in Paris, TX on and Monday, November 7, 2011 at 2pm. His beloved Pastor of many years, Tony Corso, will be officiating. The family will receive friends at the church at 1pm prior to the service. Kenneth was born June 18, 1939 in Shadowland, TX to Walter Allen Gifford and Edna Earl Davidson Gifford. He married Phyllis Webb on June 7, 1957. They had three children together, Lisa, Kenny and Tara. He worked as a foreman at UARCO in Paris for many years before he and Phyllis opened Gifford's Food Store in Deport, TX, in the 1970's He served his community as a Volunteer Fireman and the Prairiland Board of Trustees for many years. He later worked for the Deport Housing Authority and operated a Grave Service for Wood Funeral Homes, Inc., Deport-Bogata, as well as Starrett Funeral Home in Paris. He also maintained Highland Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, and the Old Deport Cemetery of Deport where he has over 250 family members laid to rest there, and fittingly he will proudly join them there. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Larry Gifford, his sister Linda Kay Crawford and his wife, Phyllis. He married Edna Earl Rollins on April 23, 2004 and they spent seven happy years traveling, dancing, researching genealogy, listening to music and enjoying old and new friends. Together they made their home in Deport and attended Calvary Chapel of Paris. He is survived by his wife, Edna Earl, his daughter Lisa Sessums of Bogata, son Kenny Gifford and his wife, Stacy of Paris; daughter, Tara Bratcher and husband, Tracy of Paris; grandchildren, Brandon Moore of Paris, Brandon Johnson and wife, Tegan of St. Thomas, Virgin Island; Allen Johnson and wife, Rebecca of Paris; Fair Shae Guest and husband, Jerad of Pattonville; Trey and Nicole Gifford of Pottsboro;Larry Johnson of Paris; Hunter & Blane Bratcher of Paris. His great-grandchildren are Harmony, Ruscha & Jagger Moore, Gavin Johnson, Hannah, Ian & Ava Johnson, McKenna Guest, & Jerrika Johnson, his brother-in-law, Charles Rollins of Deport; sisters-in-law JoAnn Hurley and husband, Billy of Paris and Barbara White; mother-in-law, Maud Webb of Paris; special cousin, John Gifford and wife, Shirley of Deport, Aunt, Jane Hignight of Sherman. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, and other family members. Kenneth will be remembered by many as a wonderful husband, loving Father, Paw Paw, and Faithful Friend. He will be deeply missed. The family would especially like to thank the Deport Volunteer Fire Department First Responders.