EAST WINN – Donna A. Gifford, 61, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, died at her home surrounded by her family, after a long, courageous battle with breast cancer. Donna was born Dec. 16, 1943, in Clinton, Mass., to Earl Vincent and Inez Irene (Murray) McNeal. She met, then later married her husband Alvin “Buzzy” F. Gifford Jr. Feb. 12, 1963, and moved to East Winn, where she lived for 43 years and raised her family. To all who knew her, her home was always open and was always a place you could stop and leave with your stomach full. When her children were young, their neighborhood friends loved to spend time in the Gifford’s kitchen. There was always enough to feed everyone that was there. This would prove true even after her children were grown, as she did the same for her grandchildren and their friends. Hunting season was always a special time at the Gifford’s as she would always start the season off by cooking a big breakfast for the hunters and then have supper waiting for them when they came back at dusk. She looked forward to their return because they would sit down around her table and recount their many, many hunting stories, and she never grew tired of them, no matter how many times she’d heard them. Around her table, the fish were always longer, the deer were always bigger and the stories always funnier when told through the eyes of those that she loved. Donna was known to all as a hardworking woman who devoted her life to helping provide for her family. She planted, rogued and harvested potatoes for the local farmers throughout the community, and was known by them to be the hardest working person they had ever encountered. She performed her job with the utmost honesty, integrity and took great pride in never missing or being late for work. She spent 20 years working for Ralph Hooke and upon his retirement from farming, continued to work for Byron Delano, Chip Stevens and Maynard Maxwell. She was always the first person they called when they needed to get their potatoes in the ground. As a testament to her unselfish nature, (and unknown to most) she and Buzzy spent much of their time ensuring that those less fortunate, had plenty to eat. They would drop by with fresh fish, berries, jam, pies and vegetables from their garden. Her pantry was always full, and the only thing bigger was her heart. Donna was predeceased by her daughter, Donna Ann; her parents, Earl V. and Inez I. McNeal; her brother, Frederick McNeal and a half-brother, Hazen Bishop. In addition to her husband of 43 years, Buzzy, she is survived by six siblings, Sheila Irwin of On-tario, Canada, Earl McNeal and his wife, Maggie, of Lee, Ronald McNeal and his wife, Valerie, of Kansas City, Kan., Rose Marie Currie and her companion, Bob Firth of Fre-dericton, N.B., Doreen Rideout and her husband, Jan Sr., of East Winn, and Sandra Bishop, also of Fredericton, N.B.; along with a half-sister, Pam Thomp-son and her husband, David, of Chipman, N.B. She is survived by five children of whom she was extremely proud, Joseph Gifford and his wife, Kathy, of Milford, Randy Gifford and his wife, Candance, of Lee, Dawn Fiske and her husband, Tim, of East Winn, Shawnna Gifford and her companion, CJ, of Nashville, Tenn., and Crystal Toby and her husband, Randy, of East Winn. She was always there for her children, no mat-ter the situation and never hesitated to lend them a strong, helping hand. She is survived by 12 adoring grand-children of whom she loved dearly and to whom she de-voted much of her time. Jana Libbey and her husband, Luke, of Lincoln, Jessica and Jeremy Gifford of Lincoln and Jonesboro, Ashlee and Amanda Gifford of Lee, Anthony and Nicholas Fiske of East Winn, Vicky, May and Anna Toby of East Winn, and Amanda Nadeau and Tyler Gifford of Milford. She enjoyed attending their games, meets and many school activities and was extremely proud of their accomplishments. Even during her illness, she was known to have gone through her chemotherapy and hurry back so that she could park her car at the field, in time to watch their ball games. She is survived by a mother-in-law, Anna (Skidgell) Gifford of East Winn; a brother-in-law, Pat Gifford and his wife, Kim, of Tampa, Fla.; and sisters-in-law, Kathy Voisine of Bangor and Yvonne Gifford of Wesley. She leaves behind 18 nieces and nephews and their 29 children, all of whom were an important part of her life. She will also be remembered by a life-long friend, Marilyn King of Winn. Graveside services will be held for all family and friends, 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 at the Old East Winn Cemetery, with the Pastor Linda Hatch presid-ing. A celebration of her life will be held immediately fol-lowing the service at the Lee/Winn Elementary School cafeteria. At her request, in lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor her memory, may do so by sending contributions to: Cancer Care of Maine, Webber Medical Building, 417 State St., Bangor, ME 04401. Ar-rangements with Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Rd., Lincoln. For an online register book, visit www.clayfuneralhome.com
DONNA A. GIFFORD
