Lee Ray Gifford

Hinckley, Utah — Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, Lee Ray Gifford, peacefully completed his earthly journey on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at home in Hinckley, Utah. He was 83.

Lee was born at home on August 8, 1942, in Olympia, Washington, to Oscar and Opal Swayne Gifford. He spent most of his childhood in Olympia, working after school, weekends, and summers in the family business. Those early years instilled in him the value of hard work and the satisfaction of a job well done.

After attending Brigham Young University for a year, Lee worked to save money for his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During that time in Washington, he met the love of his life, Glory Jean Thornock. They became engaged before his service in the LDS Spanish-American Mission (1961–1964), where he developed a lifelong love for the Spanish language and Hispanic people. His experiences on that mission strengthened his deep and enduring testimony of the gospel, and he remained a faithful disciple of Christ and member of the Church throughout his life.

Upon returning home, Lee and Glory were sealed for time and all eternity in the Manti Utah Temple on November 17, 1964. Together they raised their family in Washington, Utah, Montana, and Kentucky before retiring to Utah twenty years ago to be near many of their children and grandchildren. Their bond was extraordinary—so close that their earthly separation was brief. Their funeral will take place on the weekend of what would have been their 61st wedding anniversary, a fitting celebration of a love that endured through life and beyond.

Lee served in numerous Church callings over his lifetime, including Bishop, counselor in the bishopric, Gospel Doctrine teacher, Elders Quorum president and teacher, member of the high council, and counselor in the stake presidency. Later in life, he and Glory served two Church Service Missions—one at the LDS Humanitarian Center and another with the BYU Pathway Program. He also found great joy in genealogy and family history work, often spending hours researching, recording, and connecting generations together. His love of the gospel extended to a deep devotion to scripture study, where he sought inspiration and guidance daily.

Lee was never afraid of hard work. Over the years, he held many jobs—sales clerk at a men’s clothing store, tool expediter with Boeing, semi-truck driver, door-to-door salesman, life insurance agent, private investigator, and administrative assistant—before finding his calling as an entrepreneur. He eventually owned and operated several landscaping companies in Washington, Utah, and Kentucky, including Giffords the Gardeners, Desert Rose Landscaping, and The Gardening Angels.

Balancing full-time work and family, Lee returned to college and proudly earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, in 1981, while supporting his growing household of eight (eventually eleven) children. He took special pride in providing Glory with every tool, appliance, and opportunity that could make her home life and creative pursuits easier and more fulfilling.

During his younger parenting years, Lee loved fishing and would take his family camping in the mountains—simple vacations filled with laughter, stories, games, and the smell of campfire. He also loved playing cards and board games, where his competitive streak and mischievous humor shone through. He was known for his playful teasing and good-natured pranks—so much so that his mother quipped when he married that she was grateful Glory could now be the one he teased instead! Over the years, his children and grandchildren were frequent and affectionate recipients of his teasing.

Above all else, Lee’s greatest accomplishment and deepest joy was his family. He found purpose and pride in being a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother—and nothing made him happier than seeing his posterity gathered together in laughter and love.

Lee was joined in death by his eternal companion, Glory, who returned home to join him in the presence of their Savior only a few days after his passing. He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Opal Gifford; parents-in-law, Dean and LuJean Thornock; sister, Alice Gifford; brother, Tex (Leta) Gifford; daughter, Heidi (Chris) Maddox; and daughter-in-law Lisa (Lee Graham) Gifford.

He is survived by ten of his 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. He is also survived by his siblings JaNae (Jim) Kepple, Linda (Bliss) Gifford, Tom (Vera) Gifford, Randy (Michelle) Gifford, Lyman (Dee) Gifford, and Teresa (Jon) Jeys; and by Glory’s siblings Dean Thomas (Lynn) Thornock, Bernadette (Ja) Eggett, David R (Kathy) Thornock, Michael William (Julie) Thornock, and Nathan Todd (Sandy) Thornock.

A double funeral service for Lee and Glory 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.

Lee’s family finds comfort in knowing he is now in the loving arms of his Savior. Though his passing brings sorrow, they rejoice in the promise of eternal reunion through the Plan of Happiness. Until they meet again—God be with him.