(Youngest son of Harvey and Viola)

Born:          May 22, 1929

Died:              June 1, 2012            Ascutney, Vermont

Married:       Carmelita Ward on May 5, 1950
               Lois Rodak

Gifford, the youngest son of Harvey and Viola, married Carmelita Ward on May 5, 1950. They had a son, Glenn, born November 23, 1951, and a daughter Gail, born September 24, 1955. Gifford worked for Fairbanks Morse Scale Company for over 14 years. Carmelita was employed by New England Bell Telephone Company.

Gifford divorced and married Lois Rodak. He was a dealer and appraiser of antique firearms. Gifford and Lois resided in Ascutney, Vermont.

Childhood Memories
Gifford Rossier

I have to tell one story about myself. When I was a teenager, I went to a nearby farm auction and while there, I met up with a neighbor farm boy about my age. The auctioneer was selling some rather poor cows in the barn yard. Several of the interested buyers were leaning on or hanging onto the top wire of the barn yard fence. The bidding was very slow. The auctioneer was working hard and everyone else seemed bored. We had noticed that the electric fence out back of the barn came up to the corner of the barn yard fence. We wondered what would happen if we connected the two. We really didn't think the current would travel very far as the barn yard fence didn't have insulators. Anyway it was worth a try.

We soon found a short piece of wire which we hooked to the barn yard fence. We then just let the other end drop on the electric fence. It worked better than we thought it would. The bidders along the fence threw up their hands or let out a yell and the delighted auctioneer took their bids at a fast and furious rate.

Most of the cows had been selling for $80.00 to $90.00 but now the bidding was up to $150.00 and still going as we innocently mingled with the back of the crowd. They had not been paying much attention before, but now were amazed with the sudden "jump" in the price of beef.

Gifford's Obituary from Stringer Funeral Homes

Gifford O. Rossier of Ascutney, Vermont passed away on June 1, 2012 at the Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center at the age of 83.

He was born on May 22, 1929, the son of Harvey and Viola (Owen) Rossier, in Sutton.

Gifford graduated from Lyndon Institute in 1947. As a young man, he worked at the former Tap & Die in Lyndonville and as a foreman at Fairbanks Morse Scales in St. Johnsbury. Gifford's real passion was a hobby he started at the age of 17. A gunsmith and collector of antique firearms, he operated Giff's Gun Shop for 20+ years in McIndoe Falls. Relocating to Ascutney, Gifford continued his gun business right up until his failing health. The long duration of his career earned him high accolades, as he won all types of awards and was continually approached by dealers throughout the northeast and across the nation for insight and appraisals. He was a lifetime member for the NRA, an instructor, on-going member, and past-president of Vermont Field and Stream.

Gifford leaves behind his son, Glenn Gifford Rossier, and his wife, Marianne of Greenfield, IN and his daughter, Gail Ann Rossier of St. Johnsbury, VT. He is also survived by two granddaughters; Erin Marie (Rossier) Jennings and her husband Ben, Lauren Ann (Rossier) Bodkin and her husband Jeff, a great-grandson, Graham Gifford Bodkin, and a "soon-to-be" great-granddaughter, Mia Carmen Bodkin, and his former wife, Carmelita Ward Hutchinson, all of Greenfield, IN. Additionally, is one brother and his wife, Samuel and Dorothy (Larocque) Rossier of Sutton, a sister-in-law, Geneva (Osgood) Rossier of Greer, South Carolina, loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and fellow "gun friends."