- Date Of Birth: March 18, 1981
- Date Of Death: August 24, 2011
- State: Kentucky
MT. OLIVET John Everett Gifford, 30, departed this life unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 at his homeplace in the Piqua Community of Robertson County. John was a loving, gentle, kind, and compassionate person who developed a friendship with every individual he met. John enjoyed life and always had a smile on his face to encourage others around him.
John was born in Lexington, KY on March 18th, 1981. He was the son of Oney Gifford Jr. and Janice Meadows Gifford of Mt. Olivet.
John was a 1999 graduate of Deming High School, where he earned Valedictorian honors. He earned an Associates Degree from Maysville Community College and went on to Eastern Kentucky University to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Technology Education.
John was a strong staple in the Gifford family as a wonderful father, husband, son, and brother. John realized the importance of his family and made every effort to make each one feel special and loved each and every day. John’s relationship with his wife, Brook and son, Jake were second to none. As busy of a life as John led, he always made sure that they (and the rest of his family) were number one on his list of priorities. Although Jake was only 20 months old, John was working with him each and every day to teach him the same life skills, values, and morals that he demonstrated so easily to everyone around him.
John also loved living and working on the Gifford Family Farm. Since he was old enough to walk, John had a special talent and gift of problem solving and working with his physically rough, but gentle hands. He enjoyed sharing his thoughts, ideas, and goals while working alongside his father and brother. John developed an amazing skill level in welding and metal fabrication. John also loved woodworking and helping others in the community with various projects. His most recent project, restoring the Gifford Homeplace (built in 1917), gave John an immense amount of pride and joy. Every step in the project he completed was done with great love and amazing detail with the thought of making a wonderful life for his family in mind at all times.
Survivors other than his parents include his wife Brook Frederick Gifford and a very special son, Jake Everett Gifford (20 months); a brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Billie Jo Gifford of Mt. Olivet; maternal grandmother, Eulene Lykins of Flemingsburg; a great aunt, Mary Lucille Cooper of Maysville; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Billy and Judy Frederick of Elizaville. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Oney and Helen Cleaver Gifford and Don Meadows.
