James Edward Gifford, 81, of Boonville, MO, died Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Caring Hearts and Hands in Columbia, after a stay at University Hospital and Clinics.
Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 29, 2025, at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home with William W. Harlow officiating. Inurnment will follow in Bethlehem Cemetery south of Marshall Junction. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Caring Hearts and Hands and an online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com
Born May 30, 1944, he was the son of the late Franklin R. “Bud” Gifford and Capitola McDaniel Gifford Akeman. Jim was raised in the Waverly area and had lived in Boonville for the last several years. He had a career that spanned 30 years with Union Pacific Railroad. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and watching football.
He is survived by one son, Jerry Gifford; two granddaughters, Brittany Gifford Thompson (Joe) and Ashely Gifford Love (Patrick); five great-grandchildren; one niece and two nephews and their families.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by one son, James Ray Gifford; and three siblings: Franklyn Eugene “Jackie” Gifford, Mary Kathryn Durham and Martha Akeman Cochran.
Source: KMZU, The Farm
