Woodward County Obituary
Elmwood Cemetery

© Billings Funeral Home
WOODWARD, WOODWARD CO, OK
(permission granted)
Submitted by: Ann Weber

Carol Sue Horner Gifford Gaston

November 10, 1946 ~ April 06, 2020

Carol Sue Horner Gifford Gaston, 73 year old Woodward, Oklahoma resident passed on April 6, 2020. She was born to Helen Maxine (Van Brocklin) and Norman Arthur Knauer in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania on November 10, 1946. Helen and Carol moved to Woodward in 1947 and later in 1951 Carol was adopted by Frank Horner. Carol attended Woodward Public Schools all twelve years, and she graduated from Woodward High School with the class of 1965. After graduation, she attended and graduated from Enid Business College in 1966.

Carol worked for Woodward Regional Hospital from 1966 to 1970. In 1971 she went to work at Woodward Fruit of the Loom Factory until they closed in 1974. Then in 1975 she worked for Woodward Farm and Irrigation until 1976. This is where she met Homer Lloyd.

Carol married Homer Lloyd Gifford on March 27, 1976 in Woodward, Oklahoma at the Trinity Lutheran Church. They resided in Booker, Texas, and then moved to Laverne, Oklahoma. In 1977 twin daughters Marlene and Darlene were born while they lived in Laverne. In 1990 the family moved to Higgins, Texas until Lloyd’s poor health caused them to move to Woodward. On July 13, 2013 Lloyd preceded Carol in death.

Carol was baptized in St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Reading, Pennsylvania at the age of one month in December 1946. She was confirmed May 21, 1961 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Woodward. She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and worked on the altar guild. She helped with various other functions at the church. Later she attended 1000 Hills Ranch Church in Woodward, where she worked on the Vittles Team. Carol was a member of the Quilters Guild in Woodward and the Quilts of Valor, making quilts for the Veterans. She also made quilts and donated them to the Youth Shelter and the Pregnancy Center. Carol also donated quilts to the Higgins, Texas Ag Booster Club for their fund raisers. She also carried on her mother’s tradition of making bibs for the nursing home. Carol was an avid quilter. She made sure every family member had a quilt made by her. Making quilts was her favorite hobby, and it kept her relaxed. Her quilts were even on display at the museum in Lipscomb, Texas for three months. She was also a member of the VFW Auxiliary of Woodward. She enjoyed those friends. Carol has three grandkids and six God kids that she is very proud of and the adults that they have become. On March 13, 2017 Carol married Milford “Mel” J. Gaston in Woodward. Mel and Carol had dated in high school, but after graduation they went their separate ways. With this union, Carol welcomed a son Bryan and daughter Stacy to the family, and soon after the family was blessed with a new grandbaby.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents Helen and Frank, biological father Norman Knauer, husband Lloyd of 37 years, brothers-in-law George Sunderland, Robert Dettinger, sisters-in-law Bonetta hunter, Donetta Castle, and Joyce Morgan. Carol is survived by her husband Milford Gaston of the home; daughters Marlene Myers and husband David of Woodward and Darlene Walker and husband Chad of Canadian, Texas; grandkids Chance Walker and Fiancé Kynzie Rae McNeill, and Gracen Walker of Canadian, TX; step son Bryan Gaston wife Heather of Mississippi; grandson Gavin Gaston of Mississippi; step daughter Stacy Wickersham of Woodward, Oklahoma; sister-in-laws Etta Baumgartner and husband Raymond of Woodward, Thelma Sunderland of Bethany, Oklahoma, Wilma Dettinger of Onalaska, Wisconsin, Janet Janzen of Amarillo, Texas and Henry Morgan of Woodward, Oklahoma; many nieces, nephews, other family and a host of friends.

Memorials may be made to the Oklahoma Heart Hospital or the Woodward VFW #1335 in care of Shaw Funeral Home, P.O. Box 276, Vici, OK 73859.

Private Family Graveside will be Friday April 10, 2020, we will go Facebook Live at 1:45 pm