Lydia "Byrtle" EISBERG GIFFORD

Enid News and Eagle Enid, Garfield Co., OK

April 28, 2011

Submitted by: Jo AGUIRRE

OBITUARY

On April 20, 2011, surrounded by family, Lydia Byrtle Gifford passed from this earth. She was born Jan. 2, 1908, on a farm near Enid to parents, William and Flora Bell Eisberg.

She attended grade school in Waukomis, riding to school on her horse, Prince. She attended high school in Enid and graduated in 1926. Byrtle spent her early life helping her parents on the farm by milking cows, feeding livestock, gathering eggs, cranking the separator to produce milk and cream, churning the cream to make butter and helping with the wheat harvest. It was this hard work growing up that allowed her to lead such a long and full life.

After high school, Byrtle attended business school in Enid and worked for Cansler Insurance Agency and later for Dillingham Insurance Agency in Enid. In 1928, Byrtle married Joseph Bart Gifford of Enid. They had two children, Joe Neilson and Carole Jane, who married Robert Pellegrino of Chicago, Ill. Byrtle and her husband moved to Midland, Texas in 1974.

Byrtle is survived by her son, Joe and wife Emily and their eight children, Susie Locker and husband Karl and their four children, Sally Robb and husband Brad and their six children, Daniel and wife Debra and their son, Charlie and wife Liz and their three children, O’Shea and wife Chris and their two children, Taylor Smith and husband Chad and their three children, Marissa Smith and husband David and their two children, and Sarah Beaufait and husband Sam.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, and daughter, Carole Pellegrino and husband Robert.

Byrtle is survived by her son, Joe and wife Emily and their eight children, Susie Locker and husband Karl and their four children, Sally Robb and husband Brad and their six children, Daniel and wife Debra and their son, Charlie and wife Liz and their three children, O’Shea and wife Chris and their two children, Taylor Smith and husband Chad and their three children, Marissa Smith and husband David and their two children, and Sarah Beaufait and husband Sam.

Byrtle also is survived by her daughter Carole’s four sons, Mark and wife Nancy, John and his children, Dan and wife Annette, and Doug and wife Debbie and their children. In total, she is survived by 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are Enid relatives, neices Ann and husband T.J. Mosher, Janet Wright, Mary Beach and Margie Weldon; nephews, Winston Shipley, Jerry Shipley and wife Sally.

Funeral service is scheduled for 1 p.m. today, April 27, 2011, at First Christian Church in Midland, Texas, officiated by Rev. Mike Hunter. Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Friday, April 29, 2011, in Memorial Park Cemetery, Enid, officiated by Central Christian Church of Enid. Local arrangements are under the direction of Henninger-Hinson Funeral Home.

We are very grateful to the compassionate caregivers in the Younger Center at Manor Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made through Henninger-Hinson Funeral Home to Manor Park Inc., 2208 North Loop 250 West, Midland, TX 79707.