He died April 9, 2003, at Sheridan Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Born June 30, 1923, in Parkman, he was the son of Roy E. and Clara B. (Johnson) Gifford; attended Holy Name School; and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1943.

He then entered the U.S. Navy; was accepted for duty with the submarine fleet; and served aboard the USS Narwhal SS-167 in the South Pacific and Philippines from 1943 to 1946.  He was discharged in Ledo Beach, Long Island.
On Dec. 31, 1947, he married Maxine Bilyeu.

He worked for Sheridan Press for 13 years as a typesetter; and operated the Arrowhead Lodge restaurant for a short time, with his wife and relatives.  Then, he pursued his love of carpentry and owned and operated a general contracting company until retiring.  During these years, he built and remodeled many homes and businesses in the Sheridan and Buffalo areas.

For the last two years, he had lived at the V.A. Nursing Home in Sheridan.

A lifelong member of the Elks Lodge and American Legion, he loved to cook; raise gardens; follow the Wyoming Cowboy football and basketball teams; camp, hunt and fish in his beloved Big Horn Mountains; travel; and play keno.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years of Sheridan; four sons, Philip Jr. and Rodney and their wives and Edward, all of Sheridan, and Richard of Rock Springs; five granddaughters; two great-granddaughters; a nephew; and a niece.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Claudia K. Plachek; parents; two brothers, Gene and Charles; and four sisters, Josephine Bohlin, Florence Brandt, Ella Neva and Irene Kehrwald.

The family would appreciate memorials to the V.A. Medical Center, Sheridan Elks Lodge No. 520, or Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter, in care of Delphine Toner, First Interstate Bank, P.O. Box 2007, Sheridan 82801.

Kane Funeral Home of Sheridan is in charge of arrangements.