Stephanie Gifford

Stephanie "Lil 'Deph" Gifford, 63, passed away August 26, 2016, after fighting the hell out of breast cancer for two years, despite the odds that were stacked against her. She maintained a positive attitude until the very end, and died, true to form, in her home-completely on her own stubborn terms-surrounded by the people (and animals) she committed her life to. Stephanie was born July 18, 1953, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She graduated from Memorial High School and then attended college at Oklahoma State University, where she was a proud member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and studied music performance and, ultimately, special education. It was there that she also made the grave mistake of meeting Keith, who took her to a pig farm for their first date and somehow didn't send her running for the hills. They married on July 2, 1976. Stephanie, seeking the greener pastures of the northwest, moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, with Keith in 1978, and there, they built a beautiful home and became staples of the local community. She fostered a lifelong love of music and was a founding member of the Idaho Falls Opera Theater. She worked diligently as a teacher to special needs students right up until she retired to devote her attention to her two girls, Kasey and Melissa, both of whom struggle to see how they could possibly be worthy of the endless, unconditional devotion she showed them throughout their lives, but who are far better people for having her as their mother. Later in life, she committed that same tireless attention to the Idaho Falls Farmers' Market, which she, as the twelve-year Market Manager, forged from the ground up with her own blood, sweat, and tears. Stephanie loved movies and music and books. She loved the ocean and Disneyland. She loved seashells and art, junk food and birds. She loved holidays, warmth, and family. She loved doing as much as she could for other people and making fast friends with everyone she met. She loved kissing babies and dressing up and petting animals and making people laugh. She loved taking long showers and growing flowers and seeing the best in everyone and everything around her. She leaves behind a devastated slew of people, including (but not limited to): her loving husband and best friend of forty years, Keith Gifford of Idaho Falls, Idaho; her daughters, Kasey and Melissa Gifford, of Portland, Oregon; her sister, Jenny Craig, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; her brother, Gary Craig, and his wife, Carla, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; her mother, Bettye Craig, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and five nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Jim Craig. An informal memorial gathering will be held Wednesday, August 31, at 2:00 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 North Ridge Avenue. Friends, family, and community members whom she touched are welcome to come and celebrate her life.

Memorial Gathering will be held