Glory Jean Thornock Gifford

Hinckley, Utah — Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, Glory Jean Thornock Gifford, peacefully returned home to her Heavenly Father on Friday, October 31, 2025—just one week after the passing of her eternal companion, Lee Ray Gifford. She was 80.

Glory was born December 26, 1944, in Ventura, California, to Dean and LuJean Robinson Thornock, and grew up in California and Washington, spending most of her childhood in Grandview, Washington. She was raised with love, faith, and creativity that shaped every corner of her life. As a girl, she cleaned her father’s barber shop and worked at local fruit-packing sheds, learning the value of diligence and service—qualities that would define her life. As a young adult, she worked as a bank secretary, developing both skill and confidence that would serve her well throughout her life. She was engaged to Lee the summer after her senior year of high school, and the two began a lifelong partnership of love, devotion, and shared faith that spanned more than sixty years.

Throughout their marriage, Glory wholeheartedly supported Lee’s ambitions and goals. She followed him across the country to Kentucky and back again, always embracing new places and challenges with faith and optimism. Together they raised their family in Washington, Utah, Montana, and Kentucky before eventually returning to Utah to be near many of their children and grandchildren. In their early years, she often worked alongside him as secretary and bookkeeper for their family landscaping businesses and was never afraid to step in wherever help was needed—including joining the flower-planting crews each spring. Her devotion and work ethic were steady and wholehearted, reflecting her deep belief in partnership, family, and shared purpose.

Creative and capable in every season of life, Glory explored sculpting and stained glass in high school, later expanding her artistic talents to pottery, painting, quilting, and more. Her home brimmed with beauty and warmth—handmade quilts, stained glass boxes, and thoughtful touches that reflected her vibrant imagination. A consummate homemaker, she sewed clothing for her children, crafted prom and wedding dresses, and made special dolls and other gifts each Christmas. She learned to cut and perm hair, baked from scratch, decorated beautiful cakes for birthdays, weddings, and celebrations of all kinds, and somehow kept a bustling household running smoothly. Even camping trips became extensions of her homemaking—carefully planned, organized, and filled with nourishing food and love. She also loved playing cards and board games, creating memories filled with laughter and friendly competition that her family will cherish forever.

A talented piano player in her youth, a synchronized swimmer in high school and a lifelong singer in her church choir, Glory’s love for harmony extended beyond her home and into her faith. She served faithfully throughout her life in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—at both the ward and stake level—as Primary President, Relief Society president, girls camp director and cook, chorister, choir director, and in many other callings. Later in life, she and Lee served two Church Service Missions—one at the LDS Humanitarian Center and another with the BYU Pathway Program—continuing their lifelong pattern of shared service. A devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, she found daily strength in prayer and scripture study and took joy in uplifting others through service. She also shared Lee’s love of family history work, cherishing the connections that bound generations together.

Among her dearest earthly relationships was the one she shared with her only sister, Bernie. The two were inseparable in their early years of motherhood—raising their young children side by side, learning new skills together, and filling their homes with laughter, creativity, and love. Their bond was lifelong and filled with joy.

Her quick wit and contagious laugh brightened every gathering, and she had a gift for making others feel seen and at ease. Her joy was genuine and freely shared, filling her home with warmth and laughter. Above all, Glory’s greatest joy was her family. Her husband, children, grandchildren, and siblings were the constant recipients of her generosity, patience, and unconditional love. She taught through example—by creating, serving, and loving without measure.

Glory was preceded in death by her eternal companion, Lee; by her parents, Dean and LuJean Thornock; parents-in-law, Oscar and Opal Gifford; sister-in-law, Alice Gifford; brother-in-law, Tex (Leta) Gifford; daughter, Heidi (Chris) Maddox; and daughter-in-law Lisa (Lee Graham) Gifford.

She is survived by ten of her eleven children: Barbara (Michael) Allison, Amber (Brian) Davis, Lee Graham (Joella) Gifford, Noel (Travis) Grant, Sunshine (David) Dawson, Angel Simmons, Mindy (Andy) West, Joshua (Jamie) Gifford, Jacob (Leahona) Gifford, and Joanna (Keith, deceased) Miller; 55 grandchildren; and 58 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings Dean Thomas (Lynn) Thornock, Bernadette (Ja) Eggett, David R. (Kathy) Thornock, Michael William (Julie) Thornock, and Nathan Todd (Sandy) Thornock; and by Lee’s siblings JaNae (Jim) Kepple, Linda (Bliss) Gifford, Tom (Vera) Gifford, Randy (Michelle) Gifford, Lyman (Dee) Gifford, and Teresa (Jon) Jeys.

A double funeral service for Glory and Lee will be held Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Hinckley LDS Chapel, 188 N. Main Street, Hinckley, Utah. A public viewing will take place from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a family prayer and goodbyes from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. Interment at the Hinckley Cemetery will follow the service. Arrangements are under the care of Olpin Stevens Funeral Home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.olpinstevensfuneralhome.com.

Glory’s family finds peace in knowing her reunion with Lee was swift and sweet—an earthly separation measured in days, not years. They take comfort in the promise that they, too, will be reunited as an eternal family through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her legacy of love, creativity, and faith will continue to bless generations to come.