Troy "Don" Gifford

Troy (Don) Gifford, 84, of Whitney, passed away on August 12, 2013 at his residence. Funeral services for Mr. Gifford will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 16, 2013, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors in Whitney with burial at Hillcrest Garden of Memory near Hillsboro. Visitation will be from 6-8 PM on Thursday, August 15 at the funeral home.

Don was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 3, 1929, to the late Roy and Marie (Votaw) Gifford and grew up there. On April 17, 1948, he married Aveline Joyce Wallingsford and she preceded him in death on September 7, 1998. After 36 years of working for Southwestern Bell Telephone, he retired in 1984 at the age of 55 and moved to Whitney in 1996. He married Lena Kuykendall on May 5, 1999. Don had a passion for wood carving and playing dominoes. He was a Mason, a member of the Optimist Club, Gideon International, the Woodcarvers Guild and the Nolan River Chippers.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one great-granddaughter, Amy Cline. He is survived by his wife Lena of Whitney; children Jerry Gifford and wife Sharon of Fort Worth, Mike Gifford and wife Diana of Cooper, Texas, Doug Gifford and wife Winnie of Rochester, Minnesota, Tony Gifford of St. Robert, Missouri, Gaylia Reimer of Killeen; step-children, Bill and Becky Kuykendall of Germantown, Tennessee, Tom and Stella Kuykendall and Pat and Frank Shull, all of Grand Prairie, Texas, and Donna and Kim Ford of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; 22 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and 8 step-grandchildren; brothers, Roy Gifford and wife Mary of Bowie, Texas and Gene Gifford and wife Dana of Post Oak, Texas.

Visitation

6-8 PM ,Thursday, August 15, 2013
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Whitney
201 North Bosque Whitney, TX 76692

Funeral Service

10:00 AM ,Friday, August 16, 2013
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Whitney
201 North Bosque Whitney, TX 76692

Burial

Friday, August 16, 2013
Hillcrest Garden of Memory
3838 State Highway 22 Hillsboro, TX 76645