Nancy Louise Moore Gifford of Higginsville, Missouri and formerly of Memphis, Missouri, passed away April 10, 2009, at Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.
She was born October 28, 1923, at 10:00 A.M. at the farm home of her parents, Charles Holland and Myrtle Irene Myers Moore in Knox County, Missouri, near Knox City, Missouri.
She moved with her parents (to the childhood home farm of her mother) four miles south of Memphis in Scotland County, Missouri.
She was joined by a brother, Wm. Sydney, in February of 1926. The children had many good times together. Most of their extended family (grandparents, Charles Michael and Eva Pettit Moore, Jeptha Olin and Scottia Ann Jackson Myers; great trandparents, Wm. Andrew and Mary Myers, Sterling Elikam and Sarah Montgomery Jackson, as well as uncles, aunts and cousins all lived in the community and were present and important in the children’s lives.
Nancy atternded Edinburg School her first year and Miller school the other seven years of elementary education. In 1937 she moved to Memphis to attend high school and graduated from Memphis High School in 1941.
War was declared in December during her freshman year of college. She taught one room schools and attended summer school the next three years. She graduated from Hannibal LaGrange College the summer of 1945.
Nancy attended one year at William Jewel Baptist University where she and her cousin, Truett Neese, enjoyed campus life and attended BSU activities. She completed her education at MU-Columbia with a Baqhelor’s degree in Home Economics.
While at MU she made friends with three girls who lived in the same boarding house and the “709 Hitt Street” gang was formed. They remain friends to this day. Nancy had a gift for making friends and maintaining relationships, resulting in life long friendships.
At MU she met a red-headed boy from South Missouri who gave a loud wolf-whistle when she walked into microbiology late. She was very embarrassed! Luckily, he was a good student and helped her pass the class. On August 21, 1949, she married that boy and became Mrs. Arthur M. Gifford.
To this union, three children were born: Janis Lea Gifford, Rachel Ann Gifford and Arthur Holland Gifford (Holly).
Nancy and “Giff” chose to raise their chi8ldren in Scotland County, close to Nancy’s parents, C. H. and Myrtle Moore and her brother, Sydney Moore. The families grew up together, celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, family dinners, holidays and church activities. There was always a lot of fun and good food.
Nancy lived out her faith in Jesus as her personal Savior. She taught Sunday School, GA’s, Mission Study at Camp Leeper, 4-H projects and was a Girl Scout leader. Her unspoken attitude was “others first” and she modeled this to her children and grandchildren.
She taught elementary grades and Home Economics in several school districts in Scotland County and surrounding areas. Hobbies included gardening, cooking, sewing, quilting and traveling.
Nancy is survived by two daughters: Janis Gifford Day and her husband, Jim, of Montrose, Colorado, Rachel Gifford and her husband, Randy Frazee, of Mission Hills, Kansas; a son, Arthur Holland “Holly” Gifford and his wife, Jenny, of Victoria, Texas and five grandchildren: Katy Gifford, Benjamin Gifford, Rebecca Gifford, Charlotte Gifford and Betsy Gifford. Other survivors include a sister-in-law, Dorene Moore and several sisters-in-law on Giff’s side of the family and a multitude of nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother, Sydney Moore and her sister, Charlotte Moore.
A visitation will be held at the Memphis Funeral Home on Monday, April 13, 2009 with the family present to greet relatives and friends from 6 P.M. till 8 P.M.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at 2 P.M. at the First Baptist Church in Memphis, Missouri with Pastor Dan Hite officiating.
Soloist, Holly Gifford, will be accompanied by Ann Luther, pianist.
Burial will follow in the Edinburg Cemetery in rural Scotland County. Casket bearers will be Holly Gifford, Benjamin Gifford, Ryan Kirkpatrick, Brandon Moore, Darrell Monroe, Bob Neese, David Pulliam and Jim Wood. Honorary bearers will be Joe Neese Jr., Keith Pulliam and Joe Doubet.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church and may be left at or mailed to Memphis Funeral Home, 378 South Market Street, Memphis, Missouri 63555.
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