Obituary of Joseph J. Gifford

Joseph J. Gifford, 58, of 144 Barrett Avenue, passed away Thursday May 11, 2017, in his home with his daughter by his side. A Jamestown native, he was born October 7, 1958, a son of Iva Jean Ruthkowski Gifford Ayers and the late Victor Gifford. In his earlier years he found great pleasure in traveling the country and worked grooming horses in West Virginia, before returning to make Jamestown his place of residence. He was a kind-hearted man and devoted father who cherished spending time with his three grandsons. He was an avid fisherman and thoroughly enjoyed teaching his grandbabies how to fish. Joe had a big heart as an animal lover, helping countless rescues over the years. He loved to travel to Idaho to go camping and fishing with his daughter and her family. Surviving besides his mother of Jamestown is a daughter Amber (Don) Sanford of Caldwell, ID; siblings Victor, Robert, Travis, Shane, Bambi, Jeanna and Angelica; grandchildren Connor Sanford and Dylan and Teddy Mabes and his companion of many years Dawn Gardner with whom he made his home. Besides his father he was preceded in death by siblings Ronnie and Skippy Gifford and Chrystal and Heather Gifford. A graveside memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in Lake View Cemetery. Rev. Timothy Phelps, Hospice Chaplain will officiate. Visitation will not be observed. Memorials may be made to Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care, 20 W. Fairmount Avenue, Lakewood, NY 14750 or the American Liver Foundation, 39 Broadway, Suite 2700, New York, NY 10006 You may leave words of condolence at www.lindfuneralhome.com.