Clayton Gifford

Funeral services for Clayton M. Gifford, 85 of Belton, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 24, 2017 in the chapel at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home Belton with Pastor Rick Reed officiating.

Mr. Gifford passed from this life peacefully on Monday, February 20, 2017 at a hospital in Round Rock while surrounded by his loving family.

Clayton Matthes Gifford was born on June 3, 1931 in Wilmington, Delaware to William and Nellie Gifford. He married the love of his life, Mary Earline Redden on August 1, 1953. Growing up in Wilmington, like all good New Englanders, he loved seafood, especially crab and raw oysters. He taught his children about crabbing and gathering oysters at a young age. They all enjoyed bringing their catch of the day home and preparing for a wonderful meal.

Clayton was a hardworking, dedicated man of God that loved the lord and his family most of all. He proudly served our country in the United States Air Force for more than 20 years. He was a Vietnam War Veteran and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant before his retirement. Mr. Gifford was an honest man that felt if something needed be done it should be done right or not at all. The things in life that were the most important to him were his church and his family. He especially loved spending time with his granddaughters and his great-granddaughters. This world will be a lesser place without him and he will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Mr. Gifford was preceded in death by his parents.

Those left to honor and cherish his memory are his loving wife of more than 63 years, Mary Gifford; sons, Mark Gifford and David Gifford; daughters, Judy Gifford and husband Jeff Manning, and Ruby Gifford; granddaughters, Charissa Jones, Jennifer Gifford, and Cassandra Dilaveri and husband Anthony; and great-granddaughters, Hana and Adrianna Dilaveri.

There will be a time of visitation and fellowship on Friday, February 24, 2017 from 9-10:30 a.m. at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home, 503 N. Main, Belton, Texas 76513.

Visitation

Harper-Talasek Funeral Home Chapel
503 N. Main St.
Belton, TX  76513
Friday, February 24, 2017
9 to 10:30 a.m.

Service

Funeral Service

HarperTalasek Funeral Chapel
503 N. Main St.
Belton, TX  76513
Friday, February 24, 2017
10:30 a.m.

Cemetery

Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery
11463 State Highway 195
Killeen, TX  76542