Gaylon Gifford

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Visitation Schedule
Roller Funeral Home
Highway 5 North
Mountain Home, AR  72654
Friday, February 24, 2017
6-8 pm
Service Schedule
Roller Funeral Home
Hwy 5 North
Mountain Home, AR  72653
Saturday, February 25, 2017
1pm
Cemetery
Oakland Cemetery
Hwy 5 North
Oakland, AR  72642
Gaylon Gifford

of Melbourne, AR

July 15, 1943 - February 21, 2017

Funeral services for Gaylon Gifford of Melbourne, Arkansas were held Saturday, February 25, 2017 at Roller Funeral Home in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
Gaylon passed into eternal rest on Tuesday, February 21 in Mountain Home at age 73. He was born in Bandmill, Arkansas on July 15, 1943 to Clarence and Faye (McCurley) Gifford. He married Kathleen Riggs on February 29, 1988.
Gaylon pursued a varied career that included working as a professional meat cutter in New York, being a local fishing guide, owning and managing Sonic stores in Fayetteville, selling real estate and teaching karate. He was a second degree black belt and taught karate in the Mountain Home area for more than twenty years; at one time being referred to, in local media, as ''the Father of Karate in the Ozarks.'' Gaylon was an avid sportsman. He had been a basketball player of note in his youth, loved hunting and fishing, and was a true fan of the Razorbacks.
Gaylon is survived by his wife, Kathy of Melbourne, a daughter, Yvette Long of Fayetteville, a step-son, Quenton Riggs of Flippin, four grandchildren: Jessica Long of Conway, Matthew Lenkerd of Fayetteville, Kassi Thomas of Little Rock and Neshae Dilday of Flippin, one great-grandchild, Savannah of Flippin and one brother, Jerry Gifford of Mountain Home. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, Matthew, a brother, Reggie and a step-daughter, Keela.

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5 Condolence(s)
Kimberley Moore Hunt
Farmington, AR
Liked
Friday, May 12, 2017

Kathy, im so sorry to hear about Gaylon. You 2 were great bosses at sonic and i will never forget either of you. I hope your doing well.
Always in my prayers
Kimberley Moore Hunt

RW (Sonny) Wood
Flippin, AR
Liked
Friday, February 24, 2017

Godspeed Gaylon.

anna floyd.
melbourne, AR
Liked
Thursday, February 23, 2017

Very sorry for your loss. May God Bless.

Penny Gregory
lakeview, AR
Liked
Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Kathy, so sorry to hear about Gaylon. I've looked for you at nearly every Sonic I go to. If the Lord is willing and creeks don't rise, I will see you at Gaylon's visitation. My thoughts and prayers are with you Kathy. Love Always, Penny

Paula&Vernon Roddy
Melbourne, AR
Liked
Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Jerry&family-sorry for your loss-sincere sympathy-Paula Roddy