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JaNeta Gifford
JANETA GIFFORD
Center Point
JaNeta Anna Gifford, 87, of Center Point, died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, at her home from natural causes. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at Faith Bible Church, 1800 46th St. NE, Cedar Rapids, by Pastor Steve Benton. Friends may visit with the family after 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. Teahen Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, is serving the family.
JaNeta is survived by two daughters Cheryl (Jeff) Scott of Caldwell, Idaho, and Gwenda (Larry) Shelley of Center Point; one son, Ted Gifford of Cedar Rapids; seven grandchildren, Jenna (Jesse) Fadel, Aaron (Brittany) Scott, Alissa (Chad) Gardner, Audrey (Jim) Howes, Joshua (Alison) Gifford, Jacob Gifford and Lauren (Tyler) Boesenberg; 12 great-grandchildren, with one on the way; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and two sisters.
JaNeta was born Feb. 15, 1927, to Leonard and Agnes Garrison Thompson in Thermopolis, Wyo., home of the "world's largest" hot mineral springs. A great childhood memory of hers was soaking in the springs. She married Max Gifford on June 4, 1946, in Iowa Falls. She graduated from Northwestern Bible College on May 29, 1947. JaNeta had various careers which included selling real estate, insurance and Britannica encyclopedias and working as a secretary at College Community and Cedar Rapids Community school districts.
She was a member of Faith Bible Church and a former member of Calvary Baptist Church. At Calvary Baptist Church, she was a leader of the Pioneer Girls and a Sunday school teacher.
JaNeta was a very independent and tough woman, yet a bit of a romantic, who loved the beauty in God's Word and His nature. She enjoyed gardening, working on the computer, good poetry, the color purple and camping with her family. She was a wonderful musician who loved singing and playing the piano. Her life was always centered on Christ and her family.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Online condolences can be left for the family at www.teahenfuneral home.com.
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