Lena M. Kuykendall-Gifford

Lena Marie Kuykendall passed from this life to her eternal home on March 31, 2026, with her daughters by her side. Lena, who was 93 years old, was born April 6, 1932, to Luther and Mary Scott. Lena was the 4th of 13 children growing up in Atoka County, OK. Lena married Ike Kuykendall on October 5, 1952, in Hereford, TX. They were united in marriage for 44 years. Together, they shared their lives with their four children: Bill, Patricia, Donna and Tom. Ike and Lena made their living and raised their children in Amarillo and Canyon, TX. Upon their retirement, they began traveling in their RV, from the Panhandle of Texas to the Texas Gulf Coast and many locations across the country. Lena always loved living an RV life, making friends and seeing the sites of America. Following Ike’s passing on August 12, 1996, Lena continued to live an RV life visiting friends and family. Along the way, Lena met and married Don Gifford on May 5, 1999, living in Whitney, TX, until Don’s passing on August 12, 2013. Shortly thereafter, Lena moved to Grand Prairie, TX with her final residence at Mountain Creek Senior Apartments. In the early years, along with raising their four children, Lena cared for Ike’s father, Fowler Kuykendall, until his passing. Lena had an in-home beauty shop taking in friends and neighbors as customers. In the later years, Lena was an avid chip carver, creating wonderful wood tables, pedestals, boxes and crosses. Additionally, Lena was an avid reader of Western and mystery novels. She also was very capable of current technology, many times providing expertise for her friends and family.

She was preceded in death by most of her family. Her memory will live on through her younger sister, Mildred Bradley; her son Bill and Becky Kuykendall of Germantown, TN; her daughter Patricia and Frank Shull of Grand Prairie, TX; her daughter Donna and Kim Ford of Lubbock, TX and her son Tom and Stella Kuykendall of Grand Prairie, TX. Lena’s love of her Grandchildren will continue through John Shull, Jana Fowler, Tawny Crothers, Dillion Ford, April Nebbia, Nicole Sanchez, Evan Kuykendall, and Blair Mathews. Lena’s Great Grandchildren include Ava, Charlotte, and Scott Shull, Skye Lynn and Ramsey Fowler, Luke, Luna, and Leonard Sanchez, Noelle Nebbia, Olivia, Decker Erica and Abigal Ford.

Lena was a good woman, active in life and loved her family. She will be missed and we are thankful that she will spend her eternal life in the presence of our Lord, Jesus Christ.