Stacey Denise Hulsey Gifford, 62, of Hochatown, Oklahoma passed away September 8, 2021 at St. John’s hospital in Tulsa, OK. What a reunion it must have been for her to see her sweet, precious Cody Cyle Conway.
Stacey was born July 4, 1959 to Herman Hulsey and Bobbie Thompson Hulsey in Paris, TX. She was always a firecracker and her friends have said she was always the life of the party!
Stacey grew up in Clarksville, Arkansas and was a 1977 high school graduate. She married Larry Conway and gave birth to her son, Cody Cyle Conway on December 5, 1988. Cody preceded her in death on January 1, 1989. She has longed for the day to hold and rock her son again.
She later went on to Paris Junior College and graduated with her Associate Degree in Science and became a Licensed Vocational Nurse in 1990. She practiced nursing at Paris Regional Medical Center up until her retirement in 2015. She was an amazing nurse and taught many newer nurses the ways of the hospital. She was the mom of the newer nurses. There was never a dull shift with Stacey and always full of laughter.
Stacey married Kenny Gifford on August 24, 2010. They lived in Paris before moving to Hochatown, Oklahoma to be the camp host at Beaver’s Bend State Park in the Fern Campground in December of 2015. Together, they met many campers and made life-long friends there. Stacey always made sure every camper had all they needed. The visitors at Fern were always welcome, even the deer, that she fed corn daily. Her life as the camp host was filled with riding her green gator around the park collecting, placing visitors in the right spots and greeting folks. There were even a few that she had to “call the Ranger on”! The stories she could tell about the folks who visited Beaver’s Bend were never-ending. Stacey and Kenny became avid trout fishermen while living in Beaver’s Bend. Stacey finally convinced Kenny to become a trout guide. Together they supplied the state park with all firewood sold there, including splitting and tying bundles. Stacey became the secretary of Friend’s of Beaver’s Bend and was an active member. This organization helped keep the park clean, had fundraisers to purchase items in the park and held many events to bring in families and their children. Stacey started the first annual Friend’s of Beaver’s Bend Youth Trout Derby and she started the funnel cake booth at the Autumn Fest. Stacey was a well known face in the Hochatown/Beaver’s Bend community and will be dearly missed.
Stacey was preceded in death by her son and parents. She is survived by her husband Kenny Gifford, sisters-Sharon Gifford of Clarksville, TX & Kathy (J.U.) Swindle of Pinhook, TX. Step-children Trey (Nicole) Gifford of Van Alstyne, TX, Fair Shae (Jerad) Guest of Pattonville, TX & Scotty, Mandy and Casey Conway. Grandchildren-Kenneth Paul & Grayson Gifford, McKenna & Brecken Guest and one that Stacey called her “bonus grandson” Jaxon Cope. Nieces and Nephews-Roland (Candace) Gifford of Greenbriar, AR, Lezlie (Kenny) Carrell of Dimple, TX, Jennifer (Craig) Durham of Blossom, TX, and Jay Swindle of Abilene, TX. and several great nieces and nephews. She leaves behind her two loving sister best friends-Lori Argue and Gert Franklin.
Stacey was known as the “fancy aunt” to her nieces and nephews and always there if you needed her. She was fun, loving and always inviting. She had a love for animals and her mom’s dog, Prissy.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Clarksville Funeral Home.
A private family burial will take place at Fairview Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to Cody Cyle Conway. There will be a celebration of her life at Beaver’s Bend State Park at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, Stacey would have loved for donations to be made to the Friend’s of Beaver’s Bend group at https://www.friendsofbeaversbend.com/.
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