Arley Gifford The Register-News, Mt. Vernon, IL (undated clipping) ARLEY GIFFORD ROCK ISLAND Arley Delbert GIFFORD, 77, Rock Island, died Oct. 25, 1987, at his home. Mr. GIFFORD was born July 25, 1910, in Ewing, a son of Joseph and Mattie (WILLIAMS) GIFFORD. On Sept. 22, 1940, in Davenport, Iowa, he married Hazel PITTMAN, who survives. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Johnston Funeral Home in Whittington with the Rev. R.L. SCHLAG officiating. Burial will follow in Thurmond Cemetery. Friends may call after 4 p.m. Thursday at Johnston Funeral Home in Whittington. In addition to his wife, he is survived by one daughter, Mildred CARNITHON of Fort Myers, Fla.; six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and one sister, Ora McKAY of Mt. Vernon. Mr. GIFFORD attended Browns Business College in Marion. He was employed as a welder at Rock Island for 30 years. He retired in 1970. He was a member of Edgewood Baptist Church in Rock Island and Trio Masonic Lodge No. 57 A.F.&A.M. of Rock Island. He was a member of Scottish Rite of Moline and Mohammed Temple in Peoria. Mr. GIFFORD was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister. Ora Gifford The Register-News, Mt. Vernon, IL, 22 Aug 1992 issue ORA E. MCKAY MT. VERNON Ora E. McKAY, 85, Mt. Vernon, died 11:32 p.m. Aug. 21, 1992, at Crossroads Community Hospital. Mrs. McKAY worked for International Shoe Co. for 25 years before retirement. She was born July 1, 1907, in Franklin County, a daughter of Joseph E. and Mattie E. (WILLIAMS) GIFFORD. On Oct. 4, 1925, in Ewing, she married Erwin McKAY, who died Jan. 18, 1965. Services will be 3 p.m. Sunday at Hughey Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim DUNCAN officiating. Burial will follow at Thurmond Cemetery in Franklin County. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Hughey Funeral Home. Mrs. McKAY is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Marc (Dorothy) ATKINSON of Granville, Ohio; one son, Kenneth D. McKAY and wife, Janet, of Mattoon; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. McKAY attended Second Baptist church and was active in the Sunshine Center. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two sons, Erwin McKAY Jr. and Bobby Lee McKAY, one sister and four brothers. William H. Gifford Wiliam H. GIFFORD was born March 25th, A.D. 1841, departed this life Aug. 3rd, 1930, aged 89 years, four months and nine days. He was united in marriage to Permelia NEAL, April 3, 1826 (sic) (1862). To this union 11 children was given. Two died in infancy, two sons, Thomas Edgar and Harry (Harry scratched out and Harvey added) died in early manhood; two sons and five daughters survive. Judson of Belle Rive, Ill., Joseph of Ewing, Ill.; Amanda DAVIS of Lead, South Dakota; Anna SLAMANS, of Barnsdale, Oklahoma; Alice CAMPBELL, of Ina, Ill.; Emma LOVIN, of St. Louis, Mo.; and Mary WEEKS of Ewing, Ill., survive him; also 33 grandchildren and 24 great grand children. He was born and lived in the state of Tennessee to the age of 20 years, at that time he came to Illinois and was soon employed as hired man in the home of the widow Mary A. NEAL and some months later he married her daughter and became a very devoted member of her family in his youth. He possessed very strong physical and mental powers, these he faithfully and cheerfully rendered in the home of his widowed mother in law, won the love and affection of her and her eight fatherless children and thus a kindred tie was made that has last through life and has note (sic) been broken. In early life he earned and built a good home in which he raised his family. About the year 1875 he was given a blessed hope in Christ and soon afterward joined the Primitive Baptist church in which his spiritual life was fully manifested, always filling his place in church in his doteage after his hearing was so bad he could not enjoy the preaching he would go to church to be with those he had learned to love but now his lifes journey is ended and blessed are the dead (ect...) William Judson Gifford The Register-News, Mt. Vernon, IL (1944 written on edge of clipping) RITES HELD TODAY FOR WM. J. GIFFORD Funeral services for William Judson GIFFORD, who died at 4:45 p.m. Saturday at his home in the Frisco neighborhood in Moores Prairie township, were held at 2 p.m. today at the Frisco Baptist church. The Rev. Bird GREEN conducted the service and interment took place at Thurmon cemetery in Franklin county. Mr. GIFFORD was born March 11, 1870 in Jefferson county, the son of William H. and Permelia (NEAL) GIFFORD. He was a farmer by trade and a member of the Frisco Baptist church. Surviving are his wife, Mary Delia NEWTON GIFFORD, two sons, Amos GIFFORD of Mt. Vernon, Earl GIFFORD of Ina, a daughter, Mrs. Grace BIRKHEAD of Belle Rive; four sisters, Mrs. Amanda DAVIS of Lead, S.D., Mrs. Mary WEEKS, Mrs. Anna SLAMON of Ewing, Mrs. Emma LOVIN of Bluford, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. The body remained at the family home until the funeral hour Sarah Alyce Gill Ingram