Leon Whitford Gifford, age 86, of Santa Clara passed away peacefully Monday, September 3, 2012 surrounded by his family. He was born March 12, 1926 in Springdale, Utah to Whitford and Luella Pearl (Russell) Gifford. He worked many jobs starting at the young age of 14, which included working on the trails in Zion National Park. He proudly served his country in the US Navy, and later had a life long career in management at Lockheed Aircraft. He married Dorothy Elrod September 1, 1951 in North Hollywood, California. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Los Angeles Temple. After Dorothys death in 1979 he moved back to Southern Utah where he met and married JoAnn Allphin on November 29, 1986. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he had a strong and abiding testimony and served faithfully in many callings, including LDS Missions with his wife, JoAnn, in the Laie Hawaii Temple, Fukoku Japan Mission Office and the St. George Temple. He loved his wife, his children and grandchildren dearly, they were his world and he never missed anything that was important to them. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife JoAnn, children: Michael Gifford, Cindy Gifford, Michael (Jolene) Allphin, Mark (Shauna) Allphin, Janet (Don) Judkins, Shanna (Jim) Dunyon, Sandy (Rick)Nelson, and Lisa (Tom) Gubler, 37 grandchildren, 93 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. He is preceded in death by his first wife Dorothy and son Steven, his parents and seven brothers and one sister. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Santa Clara Heights LDS 2nd Ward Chapel, 1706 Desert Dawn Drive, Santa Clara, Utah. Visitations will be held Friday evening, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd. and on Saturday, prior to services, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Chapel. Interment will be held in the Springdale Cemetery, Springdale, Utah.