Goldie was raised on her parents wheat farm near Trousdale, Kansas. She was very proud of the fact that she graduated with a BS degree in Home Economics from Kansas State University in 1945. Goldie married Falcnor L. Gifford, a local boy from a neighboring farm on June 1, 1946 at her parents’ home after he returned home from WWII. She and Falcnor moved many times with his work, eventually to Yakima in 1968 with their 3 sons.
Goldie was mostly a homemaker, but did receive her Teaching Certificate in several states, and taught classes at YVCC and substituted at times. She was also involved with WSU Extension Service. She loved to sew clothes, quilts, etc. and did many other crafts. She took some painting classes and then painted some very good pictures herself. She enjoyed playing cards with Falcnor and the others. She was a very active member of United Methodist Women’s group at Wesley United Methodist Church, especially with their Christmas Bazaar.
Where ever they lived, Goldie and Falcnor would take their sons at least once a year back to Kansas to visit family and friends. After their retirements, they continued their trips to Kansas and to other places around the USA and to other countries.
On Christmas evening 1999, Goldie suffered a stroke and ended up calling 911 herself because Falcnor did not hear her calls for help. She did a great job recovering but it slowed her down a lot. After Falcnor’s death in 2011, she stayed at home until a fall put her into a nursing home, then into Fieldstone.
Goldie is survived by her sons: Rick (Jan) Gifford of Yakima, Carl (Kathy Hendrickson) Gifford of Lakewood, and Larry Gifford of Selah, as well as 10 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by: her parents, her sisters Emily Parker, Darline Tandy and Cleone Michael, her brother Welton Parker, and her husband of 65 years, Falcnor.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Memorial Hospice or the Alzheimer’s Association in care of Keith & Keith Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held Thursday, March 14, 2019 at Keith & Keith Funeral Home from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 15, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Keith & Keith Funeral Home. A committal service will follow at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be share at www.keithandkeith.com.
