Vickie Lynn Gifford

Vickie Lynn Gifford passed away unexpectedly on 2/25/2026. She was born on December 10, 1955, in Dayton, Ohio. At 11 months old, Vickie was adopted by Willard and Alice Wasson and raised as the apple of her mother’s eye. Her mother was a person of substantial faith and did her best to instill faith in Vickie. Vickie had her daughter at a young age before marrying and having two sons with her first husband. While starting her family, she began a successful corporate career with Systems Research Laboratory (SRL) in Beavercreek, OH. She enjoyed many successful years there. She would ultimately meet her second husband, Michael Lee Gifford at this company. With that marriage she became a stepmother to Mike’s two sons. In 1996, she moved to Sarasota, Florida and started a new life and career from scratch. She initially worked in temporary positions before joining Living Water Pools where she found a new career in the pool business and true friends in the Serino family. In 2004, she moved to North Port, Florida where she met great neighbors and friends Kerry and Ginny Miller. Around this time, she and Mike joined Crossroads Church, where they renewed their vows and were baptized on their wedding anniversary in 2011. She often recounted that their years at Crossroads church were some of the bests in their life. During this life phase, she found what would become her last job at Suncoast Pebble Tec working for Michael Pittman, who she respected immensely. She would affectionately refer to him as the “Boss.” In what became her last years of her life, she was aided by her cousin and lifelong friend Joani Wasson, who helped care for her husband during his long illness. Joani and Vickie shared a special bond that endured over the decades. She was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Michael Lee Gifford, who recently passed away and her loving parents, Alice Kendall Wasson and Willard Levi Wasson. She is survived by her three children, Jayme Perkins (Michael), and their daughter Kendall. Andrew Thatcher (Ashlee), and their sons Landen and Aiden; and her son Matthew Thatcher. She is also survived by her two stepsons: Scott Gifford and his two sons Zane and Connor; and Brad and his two children Taban and Josie. Vickie had a love for dogs, particularly boxers. She had eclectic taste in music but in later years mostly listened to and supported Joy FM; was a proud blood donor for 40 years and most of all she really appreciated anybody that was up for a quick two-hour chit chat. A great memorial to her would be chatting up an old friend about dogs on your way to donate blood while the Joy FM played in background. That would be a typical Saturday for her. A memorial service will be held on 3/21/2026 at Grace Community Bible Church, 1045 US-41 BYP, Venice, FL 34285 across from Detwillers (a store she loved) from 11am-1pm. Lunch will be served from a restaurant Vickie frequently enjoyed.

Vickie Lynn Gifford

December 10, 1955 - February 25, 2026