Edward Lenoir Gifford

Edward Lenoir Cleveland Gifford, Jr., 87, of St. Joseph, passed away on August 9, 2006, at the Willows in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2006, at 1:00 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Dr. Randy Doyle officiating. Memorial rites will be conducted by the St. Joseph B.P.O.E. #541. Memorials may be made to the St. Joseph Elks #541, In House Hospice, and the Berrien County Soup Kitchen. Those wishing to share a condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Edward was born on the island of Nantucket, Rhode Island, on April 10, 1919, to beloved parents Edward and Barbara Sue (Bickerstaff) Gifford. On September 28, 1989, he married Lillian L. Dreyer. During a long and active life Edward participated in the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph communities, volunteering with Twin City Players, Berrien County Red Cross, Girl Scouts of America, Junior Achievement, and Toastmasters. He enjoyed the good company and friendships at the Elks in St. Joseph. He now rests with most of his fellows from Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, Tucker Automobile, Foote Brothers Gear, New Products Corp. and Smith & Wesson. He can at last set aside his plans for Edwards Engineering, Royal Die Cast Machine, and G&G Associates. He will be sorely missed by his wife Lillian, his children Shizandra Goodwin of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Ronald Gifford of Plano, Texas, Valorie Gifford of Demopolis, Alabama, and Robert Gifford of Delton, Michigan. He is survived by his loving grandchildren, Byron, Colin, James, Jacquelyn, Jennifer, Kathryn, their spouses, his many great-grandchildren, and his sister, Midge Miller of Newington, Connecticut. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Frank. Gifted with a remarkable tenor singing voice with his favorite, the Irish ballad “Danny Boy”. A fan of the Cubbies, he always looked forward to the new season. We will miss conspiring among ourselves to “stick Dad” with the “Old Lady” in Hearts and his solutions to life’s challenges explained with penciled diagrams after dinner on paper napkins. A wonderful raconteur, we fully expect he will rise up to deliver the punchline, “You, I’ll pay.” He still wants two strokes from Frannie St. John. Many thanks to Bill Grace.