Brandon Gifford

Miles “Brandon” Gifford was born on March 23rd, 1984 in Tahlequah, OK, the son of Miles Albert and Sharon Lee (Champlain) Gifford. He was raised in the Park Hill Community and attended Keys Elementary School. He has one sister, Sarah who often called him her doney boy growing up. The family moved to the Lost City Community when Brandon was 9. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, riding his 4-wheeler, playing baseball, riding horses, and coon hunting with his dad. He couldn’t wait to spend time at his grandparents’ home, especially at the holiday, playing with the cousins and getting into mischief. In 2001, he began dating the love of his life and his best friend, Katey Lynn Kelley, a relationship that lasted until his passing. He joined the Army National Guard during his senior year of high school. Following his graduation from Hulbert in 2002, he attended basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri with his classmate Chad Keener. He then went on to complete his Advanced Individual Training in Carpentry and Masonry at Gulf Port, Mississippi. He dedicated the next 6 years into the Army and served one tour in Iraqi Freedom with classmates Chad Keener and Michael Clinton. He was deployed for a second tour in 2007 in which he returned home early with an honorable discharge in 2008. He returned to make a home with Katey and to raise a family of three children, Sierra Whitney, Miles Coale, and Agustus Issac.

Early in his career he worked as a Lighthorse Police for the UKB. He then went on to work in his family trade of carpentry. He gained an Electrician apprenticeship at the vocational school in Muskogee, OK. He worked on cars not necessarily for fun but when needed and excelled at the trade. He loved to ride horses and mules with his children, often taking them on trail rides in the Lost City area. He liked shooting pool in leagues, and loved to teach his son the skills of this game. He often spoke of stories told by family and his own personal life experiences. There was nothing better than hunting deer or hogs, fishing at the creek, or doing a little noodling. He was a great friend and would do anything in his power to help them whenever he could, no matter the time or place, anything that was needed. He passed from this life on the evening of August 8th, 2023 following a sudden illness. Brandon was 39 years old and will never be forgotten.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Isaac and Ruby (Shade) Gifford and Robert and Shirley (Johnson) Champlain. He joins his Aunt Georgia Mae Bowlin, and two uncles, Daniel Gifford and Marion “Bub” Gifford.

Those left to his memory include his loving wife, Katey Gifford of the home in Hulbert, OK; their three children, Sierra Whitney Gifford, Miles Coale Gifford and Agustus Issac Gifford, all of the family home; his father and mother, Miles Albert and Sharon Lee Gifford of Hulbert; one sister, Sarah Guinn and husband of Hulbert, OK; two sister in laws, Sarah Arndt and husband of Hulbert and Mary Harper and husband of Canton, NY; five aunts, seven uncles, many nieces, nephews and cousins; and a host of friends and loved ones too numerous to mention.

Funeral services for Miles “Brandon” Gifford will be held on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023 at 10:00 AM at the Hulbert High School Gymnasium with Pastor Sam Keener officiating. His family will host a visitation on Monday, August 14th, 2023 from 2:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel. He will be laid to rest at Keener Cemetery with his family. Online condolences for his family may be reached at www.reedculver.com.

Pallbearers for Brandon include JD Smith, Mikey Longan, Chad Keener, Sammy Brave, Billy Wayne Wacoche, Tyler Forrest, Shane Griffith, and Brandon “Bub” Adair.

Honorary Pallbearers include Clay Gifford, Logan Hubbard, Cory Jo Smith, Michael Gourd, Kyle Ray, and Bo Luna.