GIFFORD, Irene Marie

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, March 03, 2012 Irene Marie Karcic-Gifford passed away, Heaven-bound, peacefully in her sleep on Feb. 23, 2012, with her family by her side. Born Aug. 17, 1914, in Dorchester, Wis., Irene's family relocated to up state New York where she grew up on a farm with brothers Hubert and Ted. She completed a nursing program from Syracuse University in 1935 and began her adventures out west in hospitals in Hawaii, Arizona and Washington. She met Tony Karcic in St Johns, Ariz. and both worked in the shipyards of Berkeley, Calif. As Tony's family was from Prescott, they made their way back to sunny Arizona, marrying in 1945. Their first child, Tony Jr., was born in 1951; a daughter, Lisa, followed a year later. With two small children, Irene retired from the hospital as supervisor in obstetrics to take care of her family and help Tony with his many different endeavors. In the late 1940s, Tony was selling autos when they opened their own sales lot on South Montezuma, which grew into selling autos and mobile homes, at Tony's Trailer Sales. As a sideline, they moved houses from Jerome to Prescott, operated several cafés, a motel and a taxi company, and both received their real estate sales licenses in the mid-1950s. In 1960, they developed the Lazy K Mobile Home Park, moving the sales lot to Willow Creek Road. After Tony's death in 1975, Irene slowly started selling the various businesses but remained active in real estate till the time of her passing. She traveled the world with her church group to numerous countries, until marrying Ike Gifford in 1984. They spent many pleasant years traveling by motor home through the states, salmon fishing in Alaska, visiting the Grand Ole Opry and boating on Lake Powell. Through the years, Irene enjoyed being in the Prescott Junior Women's Club, the Hill Aid's Club, The Ladies' Aid at her Church, and The Prescott Rod & Rifle Club with her favorite pastime, FISHING! At 97, Irene was preceded in death by her brothers, husbands and grandson, Tony S. Karcic. Survivors include son Tony (Debbie) Karcic; daughter Lisa (Ron) Bauer; granddaughters Lisa (Daniel) Riccio, Stacy (Mark) Porcher, Ashley (Israel) Evartt, Vanessa Manley, Anna (Johnny) Braden and Tonya Williams; and nine great-grandchildren. Other survivors include nephews Don Karcie, Ron Karcie, Ron Weddle; niece Michelle (Jim) Pelzer and many great nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank Granite Gate Senior Living Community for the EXCELLENT care and sensitivity to make Irene's last months comfortable. Services will be at the First Lutheran Church, 231 W. Smoke Tree Lane, Prescott, 11 a.m. Saturday, March 10, 2012. A celebration of her life and lunch will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Hampton Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit www.hamptonfuneralhome.com to sign Irene's guestbook. Information provided by survivors.