St. George, UT - Our loving mother and friend, Zelma Gifford Schiefer passed away from this life to the next on August 5, 2010. She was born June 18, 1930 in Rockville, Utah to Whitford and Luella Pearl Russell Gifford. She was born the fifth child of nine children, the only girl of eight brothers. Mom and her brothers, Erwin, Blaine, Cline, Leon, DelRoy, Myron Larry and Cleo lived and grew up in Springdale, Utah. They were raised in very poor and humble surroundings, growing their own food, canning almost everything and scraping to get by. Whitford worked for the National Park Service, helping to grade and form most of the roads in Zion National Park and the surrounding states. Luella stayed home to raise the children and tend the farm. Mom always remembers being dressed in hand-me-downs and rags and always being hungry. Most of the kids were barefoot a lot of the time. The family went through the Great Depression with many family members serving in World War II. Her brother, Cline was killed at the tender age of three, right by the family home. Life was hard with many heartaches, but they endured. Mom went to elementary school in Springdale and high school in Hurricane. While living in Springdale mom met and married Clyde Matheson. After her daughter Pat was born, they moved to Ketchum, Idaho where her next two children were born; son, Mark and daughter Cleo. After 14 years in Idaho, Zelma and Clyde divorced and Zelma moved with her children to California and then eventually back to Springdale, Utah where she met and married John Abraham Schiefer. Together they worked hard at making a living while raising a family including a daughter Wendy. They farmed, raising cows, pigs and chickens. Mom made clothes, grew and canned her own food and worked at selling Avon, babysitting and working at the Bumbleberry Inn. Then John got a job with the school district in Panaca, Nevada. While living in Panaca, Mom and Dad bought and ran a family restaurant for more than 20 years. They were both great cooks. Mom became famous for her homemade pies, bread, sweet rolls and many, many other things. Over the years, Mom and Dad took in many foster kids, raising them as their own, it was during this time that their next daughter, Della Able, entered the family and was raised as their own child. Mom was a beautiful, vibrant, giving and loving woman with a great sense of humor. Her wry sense of humor kept everyone laughing; even in her worst hours she kept her wit. Mom was an outstanding cook and baker, loved to garden, quilt, crochet, read and watch movies. Family was Moms greatest joy! Over the years Mom made so many wonderful friends and touched so many lives. She will be missed by so many! She is survived by her son, Mark (Melody); daughter, Pat (Wayne) Bartolme; daughter, Wendy (Mike) Childs; daughter, Della; brother, Leon (JoAnn) Gifford; brother, Myron (Zina) Gifford and her cat Tipper. The family wants to give a special thanks to Dr. Lewis, Dr. Welker, the staff at Kolob Care Center and the wonderful staff at Dixie Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held Monday, August 9, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. at the Calvary Chapel, 3922 South Pioneer Road, St. George, Utah. Visitation will be held Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Chapel, prior to services. Interment will be held Monday at 3:00 p.m. at the Springdale, Utah Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221.